UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
Jjarlington JVLemorial Ijiorary
COLLINS'S
i^eerage of Cnglanti:
GENEALOGICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, AND HISTORICAL.
GREATLY AUGMENTED, AND CONTINUED TO THE PRESENT TIME, ,,;,
BY •'>"
SIR EGERTON BRYDGES, K. J,
IN NINE VOLUMES. VOL. IV.
LONDON:
I'HINTED FOR V. C. AND J. RIVINGTON, OTRIDGE AND SON, J. NICHOLS AND CO. T. PAYNE, WILKIE AND R015INS0N, J. WALKER, CLARKE AND SONS, W. LOWNDES, K. LEA, J. CUTHELL, LONGMAN, HUKST, REES, OUME, AND CO. WHITE, COCHRANE, AND CO. C. LAW, CADELL AND DAVIES, J. BOOTH, CROSBY AND CO. J. MURRAY, J. MAWMAN, J. UOOKER, R. SCHOLEY, J. HATCHARD, R. BALDWIN, CRADOCK AND JOY, J. PAULDER, GALE, CURTIS AND CO. JOHNSON AND CO. AND G. ROBINSON.
1812.
T, Tciisley, Printer, liolt Court, Jflctt Street, London.
CONTENTS OF VOL. IV.
EARLS.
Page
PouLETT, Earl Poulett , 1
Cholmondeley , Earl Cholmondeley , , , l6
Harley, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer 37
Shirley, Earl Ferrers 85
Legge, Earl of Dartmouth 105
Bennet, Earl of Tankerville » 125
Finch, Earl of Aylesford 134
Hervey, Earl of Bristol • . . . 139
Cowper, Earl Cowper ... l62
Stanhope, Earl Stanhope 17^
Sherard, Earl of Harborough 180
Parker, Earl of Macclesfield \QO
Fermor, Earl of Pomfret 197
Graham, Earl Graham 2G9
Waldegrave, Earl Waldegrave 232
Ashburnhavi, Earl of Ashlurnham 249
Howard, Earl of Effingham 264
Stanhope, Earl of Harrington 284
Wallop, Earl of Portsmouth ". 2Ql
Greville, Earl Brooke and Earl of Warwick 330
Hobart, Earl of Buckinghamshire 362
C 374
Fitzwilliam, Earl Fitzwilliam <
Wyndham, Earl of Egremont 401
Harcourt, Earl Harcourt 428
North, Earl of Guildford 454
Yorke, Earl of Hardwicke 4S6
Vane, Earl of Darlington 499
Fox, Earl oj Ilchester 529
IfJ" The Reader is requested to turn also to the Addenda at the end of the Volume for the latest dates, and a few corrections, of every article.
THE
FEEKAOE OF ENGILANB.
EARLS.
POULETT, EARL POULETT.
Having treated of the original of this family in that of the Mar- quis of Winchester, Vol. IT, p. 367, I shall begin with Sir Thomas Paulett, or Poulett, eldest son of Sir John Paulett, by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and co-heir of Sir John Greedy of Creedy, in com. Devon. Knight.
Which Sir Thomas Paulett, married "Margaret, daughter and heir of Henry ^Boniton, Esq. by Alice his wife, daughter and heir of John de Boys, and had issue two sons. Sir William Paulett, and John Paulett of Gothurst, in com. Somers. j also a daughter, Elizabeth, married to Robert Burton, and fecondJy to William Bigberye, Esquires.
His eldest son. Sir William Paulett (knighted by Henry VI. for his valiant behaviour in the wars of France) married Eliza- beth, daughter and heir of John Deneband of Henton (commonly Hinton) St. George^ tn the county of Somerset, Esq. by whom he became possessed of that lordship, which came by the Giffards, who had it by the heir of Poutrals j^ and the Denebands were of Pescayth in Monmouthshire.
a MS. menes meipsum. . Ii Ibid.
c John and George Fowtrell owned Hinton St. George, In the reign of Rich. I. and K. John. The latter devised it to his only daughter and heir, married to John Giffard. His daughter and heir, Alice, married Sir Philip Denehand, whose son, William, gave a moiety of this manor, in 29 Henry HI. to his brother Ha- mon. Collins's Somenetshhe, I. 166
VOL. XV. B
2 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Lelandj in his Itinerary, mentions most of the above facts thus;
"" The eldest manor place of the Paulettes in Somersetshire is now clene downc. But yet it bereth the name of Paulette, and
is a 3 miles from Bridgwater. There was one Benbaude
in Somersetshire, a knight of good estimation about Henry the V. tyme, and this DmhancU gave this title in many of his writingcs : Dominus de Posfcuith 'm Gallia. One of the Paulettes married the heir general of this Denbaude, and so was the Paulettes landes welle augmented in Somersetshire. And Mr. Paulette's father that is now buildid stoutely at Henton in Somersetshire, the which longed in tyrae past to the Denbaudes, Paulet, that is now, bought Sandforde lordship of the kiuge. Paullet hath a nother lordship hard joyning to Sandford called Hawberton, and is well woodid, but Shelford hath little. Paulet of Somersetshire landes cumraith thus together by heyres generales. By Roys cam Hawberton lord- ship. Then did Arundel' and Paulet devide a peace of landes of the Cantelupes. Then cam a peace of land by Rayiie, and a no- ther be Beauchamp of the West Countery, and after cam Henton, Denbaude's lande.''"
Sir William had issue one son. Sir Amias Paulet t; . And four daughters. Christian, first married to Nicholas Chi- chester, secondly to Henry Hull, and thirdly to Willam Martiuj Anne, wife of Sir W'illiam Gary of Cockington, Knight j Flo- rence, to John Ashfield; and Alice, to Sir John Paulett, Knight, by whom she was mother to William, \\\q first Marquis of Win- chester.
Which Sir Amias was knighted for his gallant behaviour at the battle of Newark on Trc\nt, June idth, 148/, when the Earl of Lincoln and Lambart Simnell were defeated. He was like- wise one of the ^commanders of those forces against Perkin War- beck: and in 15 Hen. VII. bearing the title of one of the- Knights of the king's body, was f commissioned with Robert Shirburn, Dean of St, Paul's, in consideration of their loyalty, industry, fore- sight, and care, to receive all such persons into favour, as were adherents to Perkin Warbeck, by Mue or otherwise, as to them shall seem most proper. This commission they managed so dis- creetly, that (as Hollinshed observes) s '< Equity therein was very well and justly executed."
^ Lfland's I;in. VI, it. • Holinshead'c Chron. p. 784,
f iJyraer's Feed. torn. XII. p. 766. £ Chron. p. 7S5.
EARL POULETT. 3
It Is further memorable of him, that in the reign of Henry VII. when Cardinal Wolsey was only a school-master at Limin^ton in Somersetshire, Sir Amias Paulett, for some misdemeanor com- mitted by him, clapped him in the stocks: which the Cardinal, when he grew into favour with Henry VIIL so far resented, that he sought all manner of ways to give him trouble, and obliged him (as Godwin in his Annals observes'') to dance attendance at London for some years, and by all manner of obsequiousness to curry favour with him. During the time of his attendance, beino- commanded by the Cardinal not to depart London without licence, he took up his lodging in the great gate of the Temple towards Fleet-street. And in 7 Henry VIIL when: the Cardinal was made ^Lord-Chancellor, he re-edified the said gate (now called the Middle-Temple gate) and sumptuously beautified it on the out- side .with the Cardinal's arms, cognizance, badges, and other devices, in. a glorious manner, thereby hoping to appease his displeasure. Having been so great a benefactor to the society of the Middle-Temple, he ^^ was chosen Treasurer thereof in 12 Henry VJII. and departed thiis life in 153S. His last will bears date, April 1st, 1538, and the probate thereof June 25th follow- ing 1. He orders his body to be buried in the church of Chers- comb, in com. Somersetshire, and was a benefactor to the cathedral church of Wells, and to the churches of Henton, Cherscomb, Chard, Crookhorne, Yhninster, South-Peterton, Dynington, and the abbey and convent of Ford. He bequeaths all his lands, goods, &:c. to his son and heir Sir Hugh Paulet, Knight, whom he made sole executor, charging him to be loving to his sons John and Henry, and to help them to preferment.
He married two wives, first, Margaret, daughter of Sir John Paulett, Knight of the Bath, (grandfather of William Marquis of Winchester) ; and sister to Sir John Paulett, who had married his sister Elizabeth; and secondly, Lora, daughter of William Kella- way, of Rockborn, in com. Southamp. Esq. but had issue only by the last, viz. the three sons mentioned in his will; and one daughter, Elizabeth, married first to John Sidenham, Esq.; se- condly to William Carswell, of Carswell, in Devonshire, Esq.; and thirdly to Francis Coppleston, Esq.
Sir '^VGH Paulett, his eldest son, was knighted for his ser- vices in the French wars, at taking Brey at the siege of Bou-
^ P. ^%. i Dugd. Orig. Jurid. p. 138.
k lijid. p 2JI. 1 Ex Regist. Dingley in Cur. Piaercs. Cant,
A PEERAGE OF ENGLAND
logne, 1544, in the presence of Hen. VIII. In 30 Hen. VIII. In consideration of his services,'" he had a grant from the King, to him and his heirs, of the manor and borough of Samford-Peverell, in Devonshire; and on February 24th, 31 Hen. VIII." was n.ade Supervisor of all the manors, messuages, lands, &c. belonging to Richard Whiting, late Abbot of Glastonbury, attainted. On May nth, 33 Hen. Vill. he had° a grant, to him and his heirs, of all the King's lands, tenements, woods, &c. called Upcrofte, and Combe, in Crukerne, in the county of Somerset. He was Sheriff of Dorset and Somersetshire, in 2g and 34 Henry VIII. and 1st of Edward VI.
In 3 Edward VI. he was P Knight-marshal of that army com- 'manJed by the Lord Russell (Lord Privy Seal), sent against the rebels of Devonshire and Cornwall, who had besieged the city of Exeter; and being defeated by the King's forces, fled into So- mersetshire, where this Sir Hugh followed them, and at King's- Weston again vanquished them, and took then- leader prisoner. For these services he was, the year following, 'imade Governor of the Isle of Jersey, and of Mount-Orguii castle.
In the 0th year of Q. Elizabeth, he was one of the principal commanders, who so valiantly defended Newhaven against the French ;■■ and when Montmorency, Constable of France, by a trumpet to the Earl of Warwick, summoned him to surrender, this Sir Hugh Paulett was sent by the Earl to assure the Constable, that the English were prepared to suffer the last extremity, before ihey would yield up the town without the Queen's orders. And when the forces wrre greatly reduced by the plague and pesti- lence, so that the Queen, in compassion to those brave soldiers that were living, gave directions to the earl of Warwick to sur- render the town,= Sir Hugh Paulett was the principal of the Com- missioners that managed the conference with the Constable of France, for the capitulation.
Dr. Fall, in his Account of the Island of Jersey, writes. That this Sir Hugh Paulett was Treasurer to Henry VIII. 's army at the siege of Boulogne; Governor of Havre de Grace, when the town was in the hands of the English ; reputed one of the best and most experienced captains of his time, and a zealous pro- moter of the reformation in the Island of Jersey; of which he was
jn I'riv. Sigil. 30 Henry VIII. » Bill. Sigiiat. 31 Henry VIII.
o Priv. Sigil. 33 Henry VIII, P Holinshead. p, 1026,
<3 Rymer, torn. XV. p. 261, r Camden's History of Queen Eliiabeth in iliUory of England, Vol.11. 292. » Stow'a Annals, p. 655.
EARL POULETT. i
Governor t\fenty-four years^ and was succeeded by his son Sir Amias Paulett, in 13 Eliz.
He married first Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Blount, of Blount Hall, com. StaflF. Esq, but had no issue by her; secondly Philippa, daughter and heir to Sir Lewis Pollard, of King's Nym- ton, in Devonshire, Knt. by whom he had issue three sons, Sir Amias Paulett, Nicholas, and George, as also a daughter, Jane, wife of Christopher Coppleston, of Coppleston, in Devonshire, Esquire.
His eldest son. Sir Amias Pjulett, succeeded him in the go- vernment of the Isle of Jersey, as was said before ; and was knighted 18 Eliz. In the year 15^6, he was 'ambassador to the French King ; which high office he discharged to the entire satis- faction of his royal mistress, who expressed it in a letter which she wrote to him from Greenwich, 061. 22d, ISjg, still preserved in a large collection of his MSB. among the family papers. He lived upon terms of great intimacy and friendship with all tha statesmen of his own period, and with many of the principal no- bility of Queen Elizabeth's court : several of whom, in their fami- liar epistles to him, have left ample testimonies of their esteem for his private worth, as well as of their approbation of his public merits. The Lord Treasurer Burleigh expresses the estimation in which his character was held at that time, in a letter written to him just before he set out on his embassy to France. " I can give you no better council than yourself hath in store: change not your manners with the soil you go to : confirm by your actions abroad, the good opinion you have at home, narnely for your reli- gion and discretion.""
In 27 Eliz. the keeping of Mary Queen of Scots,'' was chiefly committed to his fidelity; who so honourably discharged his trust therein, that when Secretary Walsingham moved him to suffer one of his servants to be bribed by the agents of the Queen of Scots, the better to gain intelligence, he would on no terms consent to it. Yet though it has been said, that the custody of Mary Queen of Scots, was taken out of the hands of the Earl of Shrewsbury, be- cause he had treated the unhappy prisoner too leniently ; Sir Amias is reported to have behaved very differently: " Even the short period of her days that remained," says Robertson, " they rendered uncomfortable by every hardship and indignity, which
» Fall's Account of Jeisey, p. 91. u Harding's Biogr. Mirror, 11. 74.
X Camden's Hist. piaeJ, p. 501.
PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
it was in their power to inflict. Almost all her servants were dismissed, she was treated no longer with the respect due to a queen ; and thongh the rigour of seventeen years imprisonment had broken her constitution, she was confined to two" ruinous chambers, scarce habitable even in the middle of summer, by reason of the cold," Sec. Robertson adds, that '■'' after the publi- cation of her sentence, she was stripped of every remaining mark of royalty; the canopy of state in her apartment was pulled downj Poulett entered her chamber, and appro.iched her person without ceremony, and even appeared covered in her presence. But Poulett, though rigorous and harsh, and often brutal, in the dis- charge of what he thought his duty, as Mary's keeper, was, never- theless, a man of honour and integrity. He rejected the proposal to take awa}^ her life secretly, with disdain ; 'and lamenting that he should ever have been deemed capable of acting the part of an assassin, he declared, that the Queen nright dispose of his life at her pleasure, but he would never stain his own honour, nor leave an everlasting mark of infamy on his posterity, by lending his hand to perpetuate so foul a crime. "J^
It is but justice to transcribe his spirited letter to Sir Francis Walsingham at length :
" Sir, " Your letters of yesterday coming to my hand this present day, at five in the afternoon, I would not fail, according to your
y Lodge, in his H/iis/r-afions of British History, II. 307, observes, " This part of the melancholy story of Mary's imprisonment hath always been misrepresented. The common account is, that the earl of Shrewsbury having been found to treat her with too much respect and gentleness (of which, by the bye, we do not find abundance of Instances), she was taken from him, and placed in the hands of <S/V ■Amias Poulett, and Sir Drue Drury, whose chief recommendation was a sternness and ferocity of manners, which her arch enemy charitably hoped her deli<:ate frame would soon sink under. We are to infer then, that Eliz.ibeth had thought fit to 'dismiss the Earl, and that these persons were immediately appointed to succeed him : but our papers prove the contrary in both instances; for they not only afford us simple evidence, that the Earl resigned his charge voluntarily, nay, that he had held ic for several years most unwillingly at the Queen's instance, but also, that Mildmay and Somers immediately succeeded him; that Lord St. John was then nominated; and even in a letter written five months after the Earl had received his quietus from the council board, the appointment of T^let is spoken of as a rumour, and Drury's name is not mentioned." It is well remarked, that Mr. Lodge in this work " has brought to light several events of this period, in which some of the characters appcir in very different colours from those in which our modern historians have introduced them to us." £iogr. Mirror, II. 74.
EARL POULETT. i
direction, to return my answer with all possible speed, which shall deliver unto you with great grief and bitterness of mind^ in that I am so unhappy to have lyven to see this unhappy day, in the which I am required, by direction of my most gracious sove- reign, to do an act which God and the law forbiddeth. My good livings and life are at her Majesty's disposition j and I am ready to lose them this next morrow, if it shall so please her, acknow- ledging that I hold them, as of her meet and most gracious favour ; and do not desire to enjoy them but with her Highness's good hking. But God forbid that I should make so foul a ship- wreck of my conscience, or leave so great a blot to my pohierity, to shed blood without law or warrant. Trufting that her Majesty, of her accustomed clemency, and the rather by your good media- tion, will take this my dutiful answer in good part, as proceed- ing from one who will never be inferior to any Christian subject living, in duty, honour, love, and obedience towards his Sovereign. And thus I commit you to the mercy of the Almighty.
Your most assured poor friend,
A. Paulett."*
In 29 Eliz. being one of the Privy-council, and Governor of the Isle of Jersey, he was in " commission for the trial of the Queen of Scots. And in the year after, on the eve of the feast of St. George, was ^ sworn, at Greenwich, Chancellor of the most noble order of the Garter : and was also Gustos Rotulorum of the county of Somerset.
He died in 1588, and was buried on the north side of the chan- cel in the church of St. Martin in the Fields, London, where a noble monument was erected to his mem.ory, of the Ionic order, with his effigies carved at full length, lying in armour, fenced with iron rails, and this inscription :
Honoratissimo Pntri D. Amit'io Fouleto, Eqidto aurato. Insults Jen^e prafecto, apiid Chris tianissivium Regem quondam legato NolUissimi Ordinis Garterii Canccllarlo, et sereyiisshtits Principis Eli%aleth(S Consiliario, Antonius Poidetus filius hoc Pietatis Mo- numentum moerens posuit.
2 See another letter of Sir Amias, printed in the Appendix to Robertson ; and dated from Chartley, loth Sept. 1 586, which does not appear quite so creditable to him.
a Car.den's Hist, p. 502. •» Aihmolc'i Order of the GarLer, p. 5:1.
B PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Gardex la Foy. Quod verlo servarejidem, Poulette, solebas,
Qiiain bene conveniunt hcsc tria verba tibi ? Quod gladio servarejidem, Poulette, solebas,
Quam bene conveniiint licec tr'ia s'lgna tibi P Patria tc sensit, sensit R'-ginaJidelem,
Sicjidus civis, sicque Senator eras. Tejidum Christus, tefidum Ecclesia sensit.
Sic servas inter inulfa periclajidem. Ergo quod servo Princeps, Ecclesia nato,
Fatri quodfido cive sit orba dolet. Interea Christus defunct ijacta coronat,
A quo servatam viderat essejidem.
Margareta Poidett hoc Epiiaphium moeroris simul et arnoris sui perpetuuvi testeni Amitio conjugi suo carissimo clarissimoq; dicavits
•^ By the inquisition taken on Jan. 15ih, 15SS-9, at the city of Wells, in the county of Somerset, it appears that Sir Amias Pou- lett, Knt. died on September 26th, 1588, and was, at the time of his decease, seised of the manor of George-Hinton, with appurte- nances in Henton ; the manors of Bymyngton, Hen ton-park, and farm of Combej the manors of Chascomb, Knolle, IJleigh, Stock- linch, Shepton, Roade, Sherston, and Stalleigh, with the advowson of the church j ihe manor of Curry Mallet, and Ruton, and advow- son of the church and park of Curry Mallet, by patent, 5 th July, in 8 Eliz. all in the county of Somerset j and the rectory with ad- vowson of the church and park of Curry-Mallet, by patent, July 6th, in 8th Eliz. j also one fourth of the manor of Crewkherne, and one fourth of the hundred of Crewkherne, all in the county of Somerset; one. third of the manor of Marshland- Vale, in the county of Dorset 3 the manors of Stamford Peverell, Uplomyn, with the advowson of the church, Halberton, and Boyes, in the county of Devon; and a granary, with garden-land to the same belonging, containing one acre, in Clerkenw'ell, in the county of Middlesex. And that Anthony Poulett was his son and heir, and then of the age of twenty-five years, by his wife Margaret, daughter and heir of Anthony Harvey, of Columb John, in com. Devon, Esq. He had issue by her three sons; Hugh, who died In his infancy. Sir Anthony Paulett, and
^ See this insctip'.icn, with some additions, in Harding's JBiogr. Mirror, 11. 77, where is a portrait of Sir Ami.s. See also Fuller's Worihies, Som. 24, rf Coles Esc. lib. 5. N. 61. p. 32S, in Bibl. Harley.
EARL POULETT. g
George Paulett, of Gothuist, in com. Somerset, in right of his wife Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Edward Paulett, of the same place, Esq. lineally descended from John Poulett, of Gothurst^ brother to Sir William Poulett beforementioned, who first resided at Henton St. George.
Also three daughters, Joan, married to Piobert Heydon, of Bowood, in com. Devon., Esq. Sarah, first wife of Sir Francis Vincent, of Stoke-Dabernon, in Surry, Knt. and Bart, and Eli- zabeth, who died unmarried.
His eldest surviving son and heir. Sir Anthony Poulett, was alfo *= constituted Governor of the Isle of Jersey, on the death of his father; was likewise Captain of the guard to queen Eliz. who conferred the honour of knighthood on him; and in l600, he departed this life. He '^married, in 15S3, Catherine, sole daugh- ter to Henry Lord Norreys, Baron of Rycot, by whom he had issue John his son and heir, and
Henry second- son, from whom the family at Preston, and those that were of Tauntonj in Somersetshire, descended.
And two daughters, Margery, married to John Sidenham, of ■ Combe, in the county of Somerset, Esq. and Susan, the wife of Sir Peter Prideaux, of Netherton, in Devonshire, Bart.
Which John Poulett, Esq. first Lord Poulett, being a very accomplished gentleman, of quick and clear parts, and a bountitul house-keeper (as Fuller in his Worthies of England re- lates^). King Charles I. consigned Mons. Soubize unto him, who gave him and his retinue many months liberal entertainment. After which he was by letters patent, bearing date June 23d, l6i7> advanced^ to the dignity of a Baron of this realm by the title of Loud Poulett, of Hinton St. George. He was ^^knighted with his eldest fon. Sir John Poulett, by the earl of Lindsey, on board his Majesty's ship the Mary-honour, on September 27th, 1635, with four other persons of quality ; being in that fleet then sent out to secure our commerce, the Spanish bullion, &c. in English bottoms, which was expected home, and thought to be in danger from the Plollanders, who had lately made a league with France against Spain. Which service our fleet performed.
e Fall's Account of Jersey, p. 94. f Holirshed, p. 13^5.
g He died 8th May, buried at Bishop's Lydiard, co. Somerset. Where
is an inscription for Malet Poulet, son of Henry Poulet, Esq. who wjs buried here, 23d Nov. 1672, aged 38 ; and Margaret, sister to Malet Poulet, who died a4th October, 1683. ColUmott, Vol.11. 496.
J> In com. Somerset, p. 32. i Pat. 3 Car. I. p. 36.
^ Cat. of Knights, p. 152.
10 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
In the year 1040, he was summoned to that council appointed to meet at York, to advise his Majesty what method should be taken with the Scots, who had then invaded the northern parts of the kingdom. And this meeting producing a treaty at Rippon, he was appointed by the King, with seventeen other Peers, com- missioners for that purpose, being (as Lord Clarendon writes'), all popular men, and not one of them of much interest in the court, except the earl of Holland. But when the Parliament, that met soon after, engaged in designs (as he thought) prejudi- cial to his Majesty's interest, he manifested the greatest dislike thereof, and immediately repaired to his Majesty at Yorkj where he, with many other Lords and Counsellors, on June 15th, iGl'i,™ subscribed a declaration, disavowing any intention, either in the King, or themselves, of raising war against the Parliament. And an unnatural rebellion openly breaking out soon after, he most loyally engaged both himself and his eldest son in the royal cause; and having accepted of a commission to raise a regimeni of 1500 foot, he ""accompanied the Marquis of Hertford into the west of England, by whose great reputation, and the interest of this Lord Poulett, with some other gentlemen of prime quality there, his Majesty hoped to form an army in those parts able to relieve Portsmouth, then besieged by the Parliament's forces; " they being (as Lord Clarendon writes)," like to give as good examples in their persons, and to be followed by as many men, as any such number of gentlemen in England could be." However, after having, with less than 1000 men, withstood an army of 7OOO, commanded by the Earl of Bedford, and finding themselves un- able, by reason of his coming, to draw more forces together, the Marquis and the Lord Poulett p transported themselves into Wales, ■where they raised 2000 foot,^ and one regiment of horse.
In the year l644, he was one of the principal commanders that besieged Lyme, in Dorsetshire,'' which, after many gallant at- tacks, being almost reduced, was supplied with provisions by the Earl of Warwick, and the siege raised soon after by the Earl of Essex. Thereupon the Parliament voted, that lOOOl. per annum, out of the Lord Poulett's estate, should be given to the inhabit- ants, in recompence for their service. The same year -'he met his Majesty a mile from Exeter, in order to conduct him to that city;
1 H'st. of the Rebellion, Svo. Vol. I. p. 155. ■" Ibid. p. 6^?, 656.
» Ibid. p. CSi. " Hist. pixd. p. 715. P Ibid. Vol. II. p, 2 cx
q Ibid. p. 127. ■■ Whidock's Memorials, p. S6.
* W..lker's H's'.orical D.sc. p. 47.
EARL POULETT. 11'
and on September 30th, following, had the honour to 'entertain him at his seat at Henton St. George. The year follcnving the King was unsuccessful in all his undertakings, and the kingdom being reduced to the obedience of the Parliament, he endeavoured to compound for his estate. But the houses of Peers :ind Com- mons differing in their opinions, the Lords " thinking fit to pardon him, and the Commons dissenting, he on April 20th, 1646,^ ob- tained leave to stay at Exeter, until he should compound with the Parliament, or get a pass to transport himself out of England. However, on May 2d following, after a sharp debate, he, at the request of the General, Avas '^permi/ted to compound; and the same day, on a petition from the town of Lyme, it was ordered they should have reparation out of his estate for the losses they had sufiered by him. How far this was complied wnth, appears not 3 but his composition was not settled till three years after, when, on March 6th, l648-9,y it v/as voted to be 4,200 1, and at the same time Sir John Poulett_, his son, was likewise allowed to compound for 3760I.
This noble peer departed this life on March 20th, l64Q,^ hav- ing taken to wife, Elizabeth, daughter and coheir to Christopher Ken, of Ken-Court, in com. Somerset, Esq. who survived him, and was mairied secondly to John Ashburnham, of Ashburnham in com. Suss. Esq. (ancestor to the present Earl of Ashburnham), by whom he had three sons and five daughters; viz, John, his successor ;
Francis, who married Catherine, daughter to Robert Creighton, Bishop of Bath j
And Amias Poulett.
Florence, married to Thomas Smith, of Long-Ashton, in So- merset, Esq. ancestor to Sir John Smith of the same place. Ba- ronet; secondly to Colonel Thomas Pigot, of the kingdom of Ireland 5
Margaret, first to Dennis Rolle, of Stepbenton, in com. Devon, Esq.; secondly to Sir Richard Cholmley, of Grosmont, in com. Ebor. Knt. Banneret, Governor of Axminster, for Charles L; and lastly, to colonel Edward Cook, of Highnam, in com. Gloucest.
Susanna, to Michael Warton, of Beverley, in cora Ebor. Esq.
Helena, to William Wilmot, son and heir to Sir George Wil- mot, of Charlton, in Berkshire, Knt, and ^dying May 12th, lOd],
t Walker's Historical Difc. p. 98. u Whitlotk prsed. p. 2oz.
"-Jbid. p. 207. X Ibid. p. 208. y Ibid. p. 278,
2 There is a portrait of him in Harding's British Cabiint. 2 Le Neve's Mon, Ang. Vol. II. p. 6.
12 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
was burled in Wantage church, in the same county, where a mo- nument is erected to her memory ;
Elizabeth, youngest daughter, was married first to William Ashburnham, of Ashburnham, in com. Suss. Esq. ancestor by her to the present Earl ; and afterwards to Sir William Hartop, of Rotherby, in com. Leicest. Knt.
John, his eldest son and heir, second Baron, received the honour of knighthood in his father's lifetime, as before observed; and being elected Knight of the shire for the county of Somerset to that Parliament, which met on Nov. 3d, 164O, be eminently manifested his loyalty to his sovereign during the civil wars. He had the command of a regiment of foot, after the rebellion broke out in Ireland, and served some time in that kingdom. But in the year l043, it was ^'transported out of Munster for the service of the west, where he served. In 1045, he was besieged in the castle of Winchester (where the lord Ogle commanded in chief), by Cromwell, who first summoned them to surrender, but being refused, he battered it so long with his guns, that he made a breach in the walls fit to enter, on which the castle was delivered lip, October 14th, and the officers and soldiers conveyed to Wood- stock. He afterwards compounded for his estate ; and having lived to see the restoration of Charles II. departed this life at his manor-house of Court de Weeke, in Somersetshire, on Septem- ber I5th, 1665, in the fiftieth year of his age, and was buried at Hinton St. George.
He married two wives 3 first, Catherine, daughter and coheir of that famous General Sir Horatio Vere, Kut. Lord Vere of Til- bury in Essex, widow of Oliver St. John, Esq. by whom he had issue two sons, John and Horatio; and three daughters, Eliza- beth, married to Sir John Sydenham, of Brimpton, in com. So- merset, Bart, who, dying anno 166Q, was buried at Brimpton ; Vere died unmarried ; and Catherine, wedded to Mr. Secretary Johnston,
His Lordship married secondly Anne, second daughter and co- heir to Sir Thomas Brown, of Walcote, in com. Northamp. Bart, (cshe surviving him, was secondly married to Sir John Strode, of Chantmarle, in Dorsetshire, Knt.) by whom he had issue two sons, Amias, and Charles ; also four daughters, Anne, Florence, and Mary, who all died young; and Margaret, married to Francii
*> C'a-er.don proed. Vol. IV. p. 468.
« Hutchir,s"s Dors'ishire, Vol. I. p. 270.
EARL POULETT. 13
Fulford, of Fulford, In Devonshire, Esq. ''she died l68g, aged twenty-five.
John, his eldest son and heir, succeeded him in honour and csats, as third Baron. On July 6th, 16/4, he was appointed Lord-lieutenant of the county of Dorset, and dying about the year 1 680, left issue by his first wife, Essex, eldest daughter to Alexander Popham, of Littlecote, in com. Wilts, Esq. two daugh- ters, Catherine, second wife to William Lord Lerapster, and Letitia, to Sir Wil'iam Monson, of Broxburn, in Hertfordshire, Bart.
By his second lady, Susan, daughter of Philip, Earl of Pem- broke, he had issue, his only son and heir,
John, fourth Lord and first Earl Poulett, who soon after the accession of Queen Anne to the throne, was sworn of her Priry-council ; and having been one of the Commissioners for the treaty of Union, anno 1/06, was the sartie year, on Dec. 29th, created Viscount Hlnlon St. George, and Earl Poulett. For some years his Lordship declined accepting of several places of great distinction ; and at length Queen Anne desired to have him appointed first Lord-commissioner of the Treasury, which his Lordship accepted on August 8ih, 1/10 j in which hio-h fla- tion he continued till the year 1/1 1, when, on June 13th, he was declared Lord-fteward of her Majesty's household. He was also appointed, June 10th, 1702, Lord -Lieutenant of the county of Devon, and Custos Rotulorum of Somersetshire, March 2d, 1712-13. On Oct. 26th, 1712, at a chapter then held, he was elected a Knight companion of the most noble Order of the Gar- ter, but was not installed till August 4th following j when his Lordship was Lord-steward of the household. Lord-lieutenant and Custos Piotulorum of Devonshire, and Custos Rotulorum of So- mersetshire. He lived in the latter part of his life at his country- seats, and died on May 28th, 1/43, in the 81st year of his age.
His Lordship married Bridget, daughter and coheir to Pere- grine Bertie, of Waldershare,e in Kent, Esq. brother to Robert, Earl of Lindsey, and uncle to Robert, Duke of Ancaster j and by her had four sons, and four daughters} 1. John, second Earl Poulett.
2. Peregrine, twin with his brother, John, born Dec. lOth, 17O8; who, on a vacancy, was chose Member for Bossiney, ia
^ Hutchins's Dorsetshire, Vol. I. p. 524.
c By the coheiresses of the Moains faniily of Waldershare, Baronets. See Tupogr, I. 16.
14 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
M^y, 1737, asfid died member for Bridgwater, Aug. 26th, 1/52, and was buried at Hinton St. George.
3. Vere, thiad Earl Poulett,
4. Anne, bc)rn July llth, 1/11, so named by her Majesty Queen Anne, liis godmother, Member for Bridgwater, in Somer- setshire, 170'S., 1774, 17SO, 1/84; died July 5th, 1785.
5. Lady Bmdget, born March 1st, 1702, married, on May 21st, 1724, to Polexfen Bastard, of Catlcy, in Devonshire, Esq. and died July 21 si, i;73.
6. Lady Catherine, born March 23d, 1706, who was wedded, on June 26'th, 1725, to John Parker, Esq. son and heir of George Parker, of Bciringdon, in the county of Devon, Esq. and died on August 16th, 1758; leaving issue John, created Lord Borhgdon, 17S4, &c.
7. Lady Susanna, born April l/th, 1714 3 died Dec. iSth, 1/88; and,
8. Lady Rebecca, born April 9th, 1716, who died unmarried March 4th, 1765, and was buried at Hinton St. George.
John succeeded his father in his honours and estate, as second Earl Poulett. He was called up by writ to the house of Peers, Jan. 17th, 1733-4, by the title of Lord Poulett, Baron of Hin- ton St. George, with precedence according to the creation of John, Lord Poulett, June 23d, 3 Car. I. and was appointed one of the Lords of his Majesty's bed-chamber. On March 21 st, 1743, he was constituted Lord-lieutenant and Custos Ptotulorum of the county of Somerset: but in March, 1755, resigned his place of Lord of the Bedchamber. On the accession of the present King, bis Lordship was cantinued in the offices of Lord-lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of Somersetshire, and enjoyed them at his death, which happened on November 5th, 17^4, when he was also Co-" lonel of the first battalion of the militia of that county, and Re- <;order of Bridgwater.
His Lordship dying a bachelor, his estate and titles devolved on his brother Vere, bcforementioned, third Earl Poulett, born May IBtb, 171O, who was elected, in 1741, one of the members for the borough of Bridgwater, to the ninth Parliament of Great Eritain ; on November loth, 1764, was chosen Recorder of Bridgwater; and Jan. 23d, 1771, was appointed Lord-lieutenant of the -county of Devon, and of the city of Exeter; also Custos Rotulorum of the same. He died April 14th, 178S, oet. seventy- eight.
His Lordship, in 1/54, married Mary, daughter of Richard
EARL POULETT. i$
Butt, of Arlingharrij in Gloucestershire, Esq. and by her had issue, John, fourth Earl ;
And, second, Vere, born in May 1761 ; who in 1S08 became a Lieutenant General in the Army, and is now on half-pay. He married Miss Beecher (since dead), by whom he has issue, Mary- Anne j Anne-Lucy; Johnj Vere-Bridget ; Harriet- Jane j and Charlotte Anne. In l/po, and ISO6, he was elected M, P. for Bridgwater.
John, eldest son, succeeded his father in l/SS, as fourth Earl Poulett. He was born April /th, 1756. He was married at SP- George's, Hanover Square, ]lih June l/'82, to Miss Po- cocke, daughter of the late Admiral Sir George Pococke, Knight of the Bath, by whom he has issue,
1. John, Lord Hinton, born July 5ihj 1/83.
2. Sophia, born March l6th, 1785.
3. William, born Sept. 12th, 1789, in the Army j died Dec. 1805.
4. Vere, born Dec. 7th, I'jgi.
5. Harriet-Bridget-Anne, born July 4th, 1793.
6. Frederick-Charles, born July 6th, l^Qi-.
His Lordship was in 1795 appointed a Lord of the Bedcham- ber, which office he still holds; was Colonel of the Somersetshire Regiment of Fencible Cavalry in the late warj and is Colonel of the Militia of that county.
Titles. John Poulett, Earl Poulett, Viscount and Baron Pou- lett, of Hinton St. George.
Vreations. Baron Poulett, of Hinton St, George, in the county of Somerset, June 23d, 1627, 3 Car. L Viscount of the same place, and Earl Poulett, Dec. 24th, 1706, 5th of Queen Anne.
Arms. Sable, three swords in pile, their points in base. Ar- gent, pomels and hilts Or.
Crest. On a wreath, an arm embowed in armour, and bran- dishing a sword, all proper.
Supporters. On the dexter side, a savage man; on the sinister, a woman, both proper, wreathed about their loins and temples with ivy. Vert.
Motto. Gardez la foy.
Chief-Seats. At Hinton St. George in the county of Somerseti and at Bnckland in the county of Dorset.
16
PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
CHOLMONDELEY, EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY.
It is singular, that the two great Cheshire famiUes of Egerton and CHOLMONDELEY, though they early took different surnames, sprung from the same male stock.
That names of men and places have been variously written, is well known to all who have looked into our records, whereof there is an instance in this family of Cholmondeley, denominated from the lordship of Cholmondeley, in the hundred of BroxtoD, in Cheshire, the name having been written twenty-five several waysj viz. Chulmundele, Chulmundelly, Chelmonsleigh, Chel- mundelegh, Cholmonelegh, &c. as is evident from divers old . deeds in the custody of the present Earl of Cholmondeley. In Domesday-Book (which contains an account of the lands, lord- ships, &c. in the several counties in England, except Westmore- la'nd, Cumberland, Northumberland, and Durham, and was begun a in the 14th of William the Conqueror, as the Red-book in the Exchequer manifests, but not finished till the 20th, as the book itself declares), it was wrote Calmundelei, and at that time was part of the possessions of Roeeht, son of Hugh, Baron of Malpas. Which Hugh also held in Cestrescire, as the same book testifies (besides the lordship of Calmundelei), the manors of Bedesfeld, Burwardeston, Hurdingebery, Depetibeche (now called Malpas), Tillestone, Christestone, Eghe, Hantone, Lawe- chedone, Dochintone, Cetelea, Brosse, Overtone, Cuntitone, Socheliche, Tusigeham, Bicheley, Bieretone, Burwardesley, Creuhalle, Tidnistane, Bristone, Bolebery, Tivertone, Spurre- slGwe, Fentone, Sudetonc, Butelege, and Cocneche. But the said
» Spelman's Glossary, p. 176.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 17
Robert dying without issue male, the barony of Malpas, with the lordship of Calmundelei, &C.'' devolved on his only daughter and heir Lettice, married to Richard de Belward/ whose son (or grandson), William de Belward, was married to Beatrix, daugh- ter'* of Hugh Kiviliock, the fifth earl of Chester, and coheir to her brother Randal, Earl of Chester. He was, in right of his mother. Baron of Malpas, though it is said by some, that he had only half of the barony; but it is agreed by Sir William Dugdale,* and other of our antiquaries, that he left issue three sons; David, Robert, hereafter mentioned, and Richard.
David, who from being Clerk (or Secretary), to the Earl of Chester, was sometimes wrote le Clerk, as also de Malpas, suc- ceeded his father at Malpas ; and after the earldom of Chester was annexed to the crown,^ was Sheriff of the county of Chester, in 36 Henry HI. bearing the name of David de Malpas. He left issue Sir William de Malpas, who died without lawful issue; Philip,5 second son, who seating himself at Egertox, left that surname to his posterity, from whom the family of Egerton is
^ Camden, in his Treatise on Surnnmes, siys :
'* For variety and alteration of names in one family, upon diverse respects, I will give you one Cheshire example for all, out of an ancient roll belonging to Sir William Brereton, of Brereton, Knight, which I saw twenty years since.
" Not long after the Conquest, Willum Belward, lord of the moiety of Mal- pas, had two sons, Dan David, of Malpas, surnamed Le Clerke, and Richard. Dan David had Will'atn, his eldest son, surnamed de Malpas; his second son was named Philip Gogh, one of the issue of whose eldest sons took the name of Egerton ; a third son took the name of David Golborne ; and one of his sons the name of Goodman. Richard, the other son of the aforesaid William Belward, had three sons, who took also divers names; viz. Thomas de Csigrave ; Wil- liam de Overton ; and Richard Littl?, who had two fons ; the one named Kea Clarke, and the other John Richardson. Herein you reay note alteration of names in respect of habitation, in Egerton, Cotgrare, Overton. In respect of colour, in Gogh, that is. Red ; in respect of quality, in hin) that was called Goodman ; in respect of stature, in Richard Little; in respect of learning, in Ken-Clarke ; in respect of the father's Christian name, in Richardson: all descending from William Belward.
*' And verily, the gentlemen of those so different names in Cheshire, would not easily be induced to believe they were descended from one house, if it were net warranted by so ancie-nt a proof." Catnd. Rem. 1637. p. 141.
^ Records, &c. hujus Fam. MS. p. 103, 104. penes Piaehon. Geo. com. Cholmnndelejr.
«* Banks supposes her to have been ill'-gitiroate. Extinct Peerage, I. 28]. s Ex Stemmate penes Joh- Egerton de Oullon, Arm.
f Leicefter's Antiquities of Cheshire, p. 178.
5 Ex Stemmate de Famlt. de Egerton, penes Joh. Egerton, prxd. VOL. IV. C
18 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
descended, whereof the present Earls of Bridgwater and Wilton are derived.
Peter, another of the sons of the said David, took the name of Clerk; and his posterity, seated at Thornton, bore that surname, as was customary in those times. ^ Which line terminated in the reign of Edward III. in six daughters and coheirs of Sir Peter le Clerk.
I now return to Robert, second son of William, Baron of Malpas, of whom I ara principally to treat, being the direct an- cestor to this family of Cholmondeley, as all antiquaries agree j for having, by the gift of his father, the lordship of Cholmon- deley, and fixing his residence there,' he assumed that surname (as was most usual in those times), which his posterity hath ever since retained. He married Mabel, daughter of Robert Fitz-Nigel, Baron of Halton, with whom he had the lordship of Christleton, and a release of the hospital of Cholmondeley.
•^Their son and heir was Sir Hugh de Chelmundeleigh, as the name was then v/rote in a charter,' without date, of Robert, son of Liulph, and Mabilla his wife, whereunto the said Sir Hugh de Chelmundeligh, and Robert, his son, were witnesses. He had a release from Ranulph,"* Earl of Chester, for himself and his heirs, of all right of suits of courts, and justice, owing to the hundred of Broxstone, for his lands of Cholmundeley. Which release is without date (as in old times was usual), but is witnes- sed by Philip de Orebie, Justice of Chester, in the "beginning of the reign of Henry III. and many others. The said Sir Hugh is also mentioned in a fine, in 14 Henry 111.° between Sibil, daugh- ter of William de Goldburne, and William Clerk, of Handler, levied before William de Vernon, then Justice of Chester. He married Felice, natural daughter of Ranulph de Blundeville, Earl of Chester and Lincoln, p by whom he had the beforementioned Robert, his son and heir j Richard, second son j and a daughter, Felice.
Which Robert, in several old deeds, is written Lord of Chol- mondeley 5 and Simon de Christelton, styling him nepoti suo, ^releases to him his claim of two bovates of land, with the ap-
^ MS. de Famil. de Cholmondeley, praed. p. 104.
' Dugdale's Baronage, Vol. II. p. 474. ^ Ibid.
■• Cart, penes Hen. Manwaring de Croxton, Arm.
"1 Ex Scrip. Tho. Aston de Aston, Bar.
" Leicester's Antiquities of Cheshire, p. 178.
" Fines 14 Henry 111. in Offic. .-.'rothon. Ceftr.
P Ex Stemmate. 9 MS. ut antca, p. 6.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 19
purtenanccs in Christelton, which Sir Hugh de Chelmundeley, brother to him the said Simon de Christelton, gave to him- Which land, this Robert de Chehnundeley gave by charter to the abbey of Chester, with his body to be buried in the churchyard of St. Werbugh : Richard de Chelmundeley, his brother, releas- ing his claim thereto, as is evident from charters entered in the ledger book of the abbey of Chester. He married Beatrix, daughter to Urian St. Peire/ or (as others), daughter of David le Clerk, baron of half the barony of Malpas, and sister to Idonea, the wife of Urian de St. Peire, by whom he had issue his son and heir,
Richard, wrote Lord of Cholmondeley, in a deed without date,^ wherein he grants to Hugh, his son and heir, all his lands in Cholmondeley, Wythall, &c. He married Margery, sister and coheir of Richard de Kingsley,' and daughter of Sir Richard de Kingsley (Lord of Kingsley, Norley, Newton, Codington, and of the bailywick of Delamere-forest), who was great-grandson of Randle de Kingsley, who had the forestership of Delamere, of the grant of Randle, the first Earl of Chester of that name. The said Margery is mentioned in 2'J Henry HI. as one of the coheirs of Richard de Kingsley, her brother ; and surviving her husband, grants, by deed without date," to Hugh de Camera, her kinsman, and his heirs, one plow-land in Aston, paying one pair of white gloves yearly, at the feast of the Nativity of St. John Baptist, and one lance every second year ; whereunto are witnesses, Robert de Celmundele, and others ; and her seal, appendant, is a branch of a tree, circumscribed, in old characters, S. Margarie Celmundele. She had issue three sons (of whom, Richard, the eldest, died with- out issue) J and several daughters.
The eldest surviving son was Hugh de Cholmondeley, men- tioned in several deeds, in the reign of Edward L and IL He married Catherine, daughter of William de Spurstow, and left issue, Richard, his son and heir 3 William, hereafter mentioned ; Robert, and Thomas.
Robert is wrote son of Hugh de Cholmundelegh, in a writ of error, 23 Edward IlL* concerning lands in Wyncham. near Pic- merj wherein he, and Alice his wife (daughter and coheir to John de Wasteneys, of Wyncham, in Cheshire), were, with
f MS. p. 86. s E; Collect. Will. Vernon de Shakerley.
^ Ex Stemmate de Kingsley. u Care. {.en»S Tho. Aston de Aston, Bar.
* Ex Origin* in Cusiro Cestr.
20 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
others, plaintiffs. Also in 35 Edward III. hey gave in trust to Hugh del Halgh, chaplain, his property in all his lands in Chor- ley, Werleston, Berkesford, and Wich-Malbank, to which charter, John de Delves, then Lieutenant and Justice of Chester, was a witness. He left issue two sons, William, and John,^ wrote son of Robert de Cholmundeley, of Chorlcy, in 13 Henry IV. at which time he had the guardianship of John, son and heir of William Crew de Send. He succeeded his brother William, at Chorley, in the 4th year of Henry IV.^ as appears by inquisition taken after his death ; and in the gth year of Henry V. is wrote John de Cholmondcley de Chorley ; and,*" with Robert, his son, o-rants to Margaret, wife of Edmund de Munsale, a moiety of the village of Wyncham. From the said Robert, who married Alice, daughter of Sir Robert Needham, of Shenton, descended John Cholmondelcy, of Chorley, who, by Joan his wife, daughter and coheir of Thomas Heyton,= was father to Sir Richard Cholmon- dcley, Lieutenant of the Tower of London j and Roger Cholmon- dcley, Knight of the Body to King Henry VIII. ; he died 28th April, 153S; and by Catherine, daughter of Richard Constable, of Flamborough, in Yorkshire, had Sir Richard Cholmondelcy, of Thornton, who married Margaret, daughter of William Lord Conyers, and became lineal ancestor to the Cholmondeleys of iriiitty, in Yorkshire.^
I now return to Richard, eldest son of Hugh de Cholmonde- lcy, by Catherine his wife, daughter of William de Spurstow. Which Richard, by his charter * without date, releases to Richard, son of Pagan, and his heirs (in consideration of five marks), a quit-rent of 10s. per ann. for land held of him in Christleton- Parva; but reserves for homage and service, a pair of white
y Ex Collect. W. Vernon de Shakerley, ^ Record in Castro Cestr.
z Ibid, in 13 Henry IV. a Es. 4 Henry IV. in Castro Cestr.
*> Ex. Collect. \V. Vernon de Shakerley, prxd. <= Ex Stemmate.
^ Hugh Cholmley, Esq. represented Heydon in Parliament, from 1708 to 1722. He was Surveyor of the King's Honours, Castles, &c. and a Commis- sioner of the Victualling Office. A few years ago, a curious Family Memoir of this branch was printed for private distribution. Sir Edward During, of Suren- den, in Kent, Bart, married Elizabeth, eldest daughter and coheir of Sir William Cholmley, of Whitby, in Yorkshire, Bart, by whom he was father of Sir Cholm- ley Dering, Bart, who died 1711.
In 1562, Sir Roger Cholmley was Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench, and was founder of a free Grammar School, at Hornsey, in Middleftx. See Ljsons's Environs, IH. 64, but I know not of what branch he was. e Ex Collect. Ra. Holme de Cestr. Gen.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 21
gloves yearly, on the feast of St. John Baptist, according to the charter of Robert de Cholmundeley, granted to the said Richard, son of Pagan. And being also wrote Richard, son of Hugh de Cholmundeley ,*^ was summoned in 13 Edward II. to the court of pleas at Chester, to answer Thomas, Abbot of St. Wcrburgh, why he destrained the chattels of the said Abbot, in WardhuU de- mesnes, in Halghton. To which he pleaded, that the seizure was just; it being not in the town of Halghton, but in Rowe- Christleton, the lordship of which town belonged to him the said Richard de Cholmundeley. On what account he had this con- troversy with the Abbot, does not appear j but the same year he summoned the said Abbot, and William de Bebynton, to answer why they seized and detained his chattels at Hull, near Wades- dale, in Row Christleton : whereunto the Abbot pleaded, that he took them not in Christleton, but in Halghton demesnes, belong- ing to the manors of Huntington, and Halghton, He was living in Q Edward III. being then wrote Richard de Cholmundeley, senior; and, with Mabilla his wife, were s deforciants, in a fine levied before William de Clinton, Justice of Chester. Also in 31 Edward III. Richard, son of Hugh de Cholmundeley,"^ claimed view of frank-pledge, waifs, strays, &c. in Cholmondleyj and the same year being styled Richard Lord of Cholmondley,V claimed the privilege of holding courts for trial of all manner of pleas within his demesnes of Cholmondley and Christleton.
He left issue, Richard, his son and heir, who departed this life without issue, in 35 Edward III. and by inquisition ^ taken after his death, William, son of Hugh de Cholmondley, was found to be his next heir ; and that Maud, wife of Richard de Chol- mondley, father of the said Richard, held in dower four messuages, and 60 acres of land in Cholmondley.
Which William married Elizabeth, daughter to Sir William de Brereton, of Brereton, Knt. and was dead in 4Q Edward III. when the said William de Brereton, Knt. had, in consideration of the sum^ 661. 13 s. 4d. payable to the King within the term of seven years, the guardianship of Richard, son and heir of William de Cholmondeley, and his marriage, without dispa- ragement ^ as also the reversion of the dowry (when it shall hap-
f PlacitaCom, Cestr. 13 Edw. II.
g Fines in Prothon. OfEc. Cestr. 9. Edw. III.
h Placita Com. Cestr. 31 Edw. III. i Ibid.
k Efc. 35 Edward. Ill in Cast. Cest.
1 Cart, penes VViU. Domini Brereton de Brereton.
23 PEEK..o£ OF ENGLAND.
pen), of Maud, wife of the late Richard de Chohiaondlcy. And if the said Richard, son and heir of William de Cholmondley, should die before he attained his full age, that he the said Sir William de Brereton should have the guardianship and marriage of Catharine and Margery, sisters of the aforesaid Richard de Cholmondley.
Which Richard de Cholmondley married two wives; Anne, daughter of John Bromley, of Badington, and Alice, daughter of Richard de Henhull, of Henhull. Which Richard de Henhull dying in 1 1 Rich. II. the said Alice was found (by the inquisi- tion taken after his death), to be his daughter and coheir,"" and then the wife of Richard de Cholmondelegh, as the name at that time was wrote.
His son and heir was William de Cholmondley,"^ who died before him in 10 Henry IV. having issue by his wile, Maud, daughter of Sir John Cheyney, of Willaston in Wirral, in com. Cestr. Knt. (and coheir to her mother, Maud, daughter and co- heir to Thomas de Capcnhurst), "Richard his son and heir, and John Cholmondley, second son of Copenhall, in Staffordshire, an- cestor to the CholmoncUeys of Copenhall, and others.
RiCHAUD de Cholmondeley, eldest son, is mentioned p in the fine rolls in 4 Edw, IV. as one of the Justices in the county of Chester, before whom fines are levied, as also in 22 Edw. IV. when 'J he was wrote Richard de Cholmondelegh, senior; and likewise in 2 Hen. VII. He departed this life in 4 Hen. Vll.r as the inquisition taken after his death shews ; and having mar- ried Ellen, daughter of John Davenport, of Davenport, Esq. had issue his son and heir,
Richard de Cholmondley, who married Eleanor, fifth daugh- ter of Sir Thomas Dutton, of Dutton, and sister and coheir to John, her brother, who died before he was of full age.s Which family of Dutton, descended from Huddard Lord of Dutton, bro- ther to Nigel, Baron of Halton ; and were enriched by the mar- riages of the heirs of Minshul, of Minshul, and of Sir Piers Thornton, of Thornton, in Cheshire. A Quo Warranto was brought in 15 Henry VII.' against William dc Wilbraham, Thomas Booth, and Richard Belputon, feoffees of and in the
11 Es. II Rich. II. in Cast. Cestr. " Ex Stemmate in MS. prxd.
o Ibid. P Fines 4 Edw. IV. in Castro Cestr.
q Ibid. Z2 Edw. IV. and z Hen. VII. ■ Esc. 4 Hen. VII.
s Ex Stem, de Dutton in MS. praed. p. 100. t Quo Warranto 15 Hen. VII. in Offic. Prothon. Cestr.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 2$
lands and tenements of Richard de Cholmondeley, of Cholmon- deley, Esq. to answer to the Prince and Earl of Chester, by what authority they claimed view of frank pledge in the manor of Cholmondeley, and waifs and strays there, and to be discharged from suit or service to the Earl's court, and of the hundred of Dunston, & de uno Judice, &c. Whereunto they produced an exemption as to the suit of court, & de uno Judice, by the charter of Ranulph Earl of Chester and Lincoln, granted to Hugh de Cholmondeley, wherein he was discharged of those services ; and as to view of frank pledge, waifs and strays, they pleaded pre- scription. This Richard de Cholmondeley was a benefactor to the church of Badelcy j upon which account, his figure, accord- ing to the custom of those times, was painted in glass, in the highest window on the south side next the chancel. He is pour- traycd kneeling before a desk, and a book before him, with the arms of his family, viz. Gules, tivo Helmets in chief, Argent^ garnisJid, Or; and in lose Garb of the third; and underneath was this inscription in the year 167O: * Orate pro bono statu.
ef Richardi Cholmondly ' He
left issue a son,
Richard Cholmondeley, Esq. one of the Justices " before whom fines were levied, from 1/ Henry VIL to 24 Henry VIII, and who, in 30 Henry VIII. departed this life,^ seised (as the in- quisition shews, taken March 20, the same year), of the manors of Cholmondlcy, Church Minsule, and Aston ; and of divers other manors and lands in Gildon, Sutton, Broughton, Pulton- Lancelyn, Whitley, Hawarden, Copenhurst, Laerton, Chorley, Badcley, Bikerton, Malpas, Hampton, Ebnall, Tushingham, Bra- deley, and Kinderton. He repaired the chancel of Cbolmondley in the beginning of the reign of Henry VIII. and on the skreen of it his arms are cut, and this inscription ; " Orate pro bono " statu Richardi Cholmundley et Elizabeth Uxoris ejus, sacelli " factoris, Anno Domini Millesimo quingentestmo quarto decimo." He married, first, Elizabeth, daughter to Sir Roger Corbet, of Morton Corbet, in com. Salop, Knt. by whom he had issue an only daughter, Maud, wedded to Sir Peter Newton, Knt. But by his second wife Elizabeth, daughter to Sir Randle Brereton of Malpas, chamberlain of Chester (who survived him, and was afterwards married to Sir Randle Mainwaring, of Over Pever> Knt.) he had several children 3 whereof these daughters were
» Fines in Offic. Prothon. Cestr. de iisd. Ann. * Esc. 30 Hen. VIII.
^4 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
married, viz. Catherine, to Richard Priestland, of Priestland and Wardhill, in Cheshire, Esq. ; Agnes, to Randle Mainwaring, of Caringtun, Esq. 3 and Ursula, to Thomas Stanley, of Wever, Esq, Hugh Choldmondley was his eldest son and heir; and
Randle Cholmondley, a younger son, being educated in the study of the laws at Lincoln's -Inn, was elected Autumn-reader of that society, in 5 Edward VL but did not read, because of the pestilence.)' In 6 Edward Vt. he was Lent-reader of the said society; and in 4 and 5 Philip and Mary, Double reader thereof;* at which time he was Recorder of the city of London. In the last year of King Philip and Queen Mary, * he was elected Ser- jeant at law : also in the first year of Queen Elizabeth, was Treble-reader of the society, whereof he was a member,l> and was then called by that Queen's writ to be scrjeant at law. His learning and knowledge in the laws appear from his being so often Reader of this society; but he died without issue on April 25, 1563.
Hugh Cholmondley, the eldest son,'^ was 25 years of age at his father's death, in 30 Henry VIII, He was in that expedition made into ''Scotland under the Duke of Norfolk, 30 Henry VIII. and for his valiant behaviour there, received the honour ot" knight- hood at Leith. In the reign of King Philip and Queen Mary, ' he raised, at his own expense, 100 men, to march under the Earl of Derby, who in September, 1557, was sent to oppose the Scots on their invading England, and threatening to besiege Ber- wick. He was a person of great honour,*^ and for his admirable gifts of wisdom, temperance, continency, liberality, hospitality, and godly departure at his end, left few who were his equals; and his death was lamented by all sorts of people, having for fifty years together s been esteemed the father of his country, by the good offices he did to all who applied themselves to him, which appears from many arbitrations on record, that were left to his determination. He was five times Sheriff of Cheshire,'' as also Sheriff of Flintshire, for some years, and a long time one of the two only deputy-lieutenants of Cheshire; and for a good space Vice-president of the Marches of Wales, in the absence of the
y Dugdak's Grig. Jurid. p. 252. ^ Ibid.
» Dugdak's Chion. serks, p. 91 *" Pat. i E'iz- P-4'
e Esc. 30 Henry VIII. <l Dugdak's Baronage, Vol. II. p.474'
c Strype's Historkal Memorials, p. 43 3> 435- f King's Description of Cheshire, p. 54. % Fuller's Worthies of Cheshire, p. 187. •» King, ut antea.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 25
famous Sir Henry Sidney, Knt. Lord-deputy of Ireland. He de- parted this life in the 83d year of his age, on January 6, 1 596-7, geised (as the inquisition after his death shews), i of the manor of Cholmondeley, and of twenty two messuages, four cottages, two water-mills, and one wind-mill, &:c, in Cholmondeley j as alfo of the manor or barony of Wich-Malbank, with all the rents, reversions, services, &c. the manor of Barkesford, alias Basford, with the appurtenances, and the several manors of Moldsworth, Bickley, Norbury, with Alhurst, Aston juxta Mondrem, Church- Minsule, two parts of the manor of Copcnhurst, the manors of Newbald and Elderston juxta Wich-Malbank, and the fourth part of the vill of Burvvardsley ; with divers lands and tenements in Henhull, alias Hendle, Barton, Haughton, Horton, Tilston, Rovvton, alias Row-Christleton, Wirswall, Bradley Boughton, Haslington, Badington, Chowley, Plumley, two messuages, and two salt-works in North-wich, and lands in Worleston, Wren- bury, Frith, Egerton, Church Shocklach, and Shocklach Oyat, Audlim, Swanbach, Golbourne, Bellow juxta Tattenhall, Church- Copenhall, Monks-Copenhall, Woodbanke alias Rough- Sho- wicke infra Great Saughall, Bebyngton, St. Ann's Heys, in the parish of Plurastall, &:c. Beckford, Newhall ; and of one capital messuage called Cholmondley-house, in the parish of St. John Baptist in the suburbs of the city of Chester ; also of the manors of Hinton and Madford, in Somersetshire j and lands in Shrop- shire and Flintshire. He lies buried in the chancel of the family in the church of Malpas; and a noble monument is erected therej his effigies, with his lady by him, lying thereon.
He married two wives ; but by Mary his last Lady, daughter to Sir William Griffith of Pentrin, relict of Sir Randle Brereton of Malpas, he had no issue. His first lady was Anne^ daughter and coheir to George Dorman of Malpas, ^ by Agnes his wife, daughter and heir of Thomas Hill of Malpas, son of Humphry Hill, and of Anne his wife, daughter and coheir of John Bird of Chorlton, by Catharine his wife, aunt and heir of David de Mal- pas, of Hampton and Bickerton, in com. Cestr. ; and the said Humphry Hill was lineally descended from Hugh Hill, who in the reign of King Edward IH. married Eleanor, daughter and coheir of Hugh de Wloukeslow, lord of Wloukeslow, in com. Sa- lop} and the coats of arms, of these heiresses, the present Earl of
♦ i Esc. 39 Eliz. in the Exchequer of Chester.
^ Ex Stem, de Famil. Hill, in MS. ptxd, p. 105.
25 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Cholmondeley has a right to quarter. Sir Hugh had issue (by the aforesaid Anne), tliree sons_, and one daughter;
Frances, married to Thomas Wilbraham of Woodhey, in com. Cestr. Esq. father (by her) of Sir Richard Wilbraham, Knt. and Bart, whose male issue terminated in Sir Thomas Wilbraham, who had two daughters, his coheirs; viz. Grace, married to Lionel Tolmache, first Earl of Dysart; and Mary, to Richard Newport, second Earl of Bradford, and father by her of the last two Earls.
Of Sir Hugh's three sons, only the eldest left issue, who was named after his father Hugh.
Which Hugh Cholmondley, of Cholmondley,' was knighted in the lifetime of his father, in 158S, the memorable year of the Spanish invasion; and at his father's decease was"" forty-six years of age and more.n He was heir to his virtues, as well as to his esate; and gave many proofs of an honourable benevolence, and a steady adherence to the Protestant religion, and the interests of his country. Before he was twenty-one years of age, he headed 130 men,° raised by his father's interest and expense, and marched with them for the suppression of that rebellion in the North, begun P in the 12th year of Queen Elizabeth, under the leading of the Earls of Westmorland and Northumberland, for restoring the Romish religion : and the Queen's forces having put them to flight, those Earls, with other of the conspirators, were attainted in parliament. He was twice the Queen's Escheator of the county of Chester,i viz. in 33 and 41 Eliz.'' as also Sheriff of the same county; and in 42 Eliz. was in a special commission, with the ' Lord Chancellor Egerton, Thomas Lord Buckhurst, Lord Treasurer of England, and others, for the suppression of schism. He increased his estate by his marriage, and by divers purchases, as appears by the inquisition after his death, in 43 Eliz.t which shews that he departed this life on the 23d of July the same year, and that Robert Cholmondley, Esq. was the eldest son and heir, and of the age of seventeen years, on the l6th of June last past. He lies buried with his ancestors in the chancel of the family, in
MS. de Eqult. penes meip. ^ Esc. 39 Eliz.
n Fuller's Worthies, p. 187. ° MS. hujus Famil. prxd. p. 88.
P Camden's Hist, of Q^Eliz. in Hist, of Eng. Vol. I. p. 42;.
<J Leicester's Antiq. of Chesh. p. 187.
r Bundle of Inquisitions in the Exchequer at Chester.
5 Ryraer's Fcedera, Vol. XVI. p. 386. * Esc. 43 ^iz. in Scac. Cestr.
EARL OF CHOMONDELEY. 2;
the church of Malpas, where his Lady had also sepulture, who lived many years after him, deceasing on the 15th of August 1626. Her name was Mary ; and she was sole daughter and heir of Christopher Holford, of Holford, Esq. by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and coheir of Sir Randle Manwaring, of Fever and Ba- dcley in Cheshire, elder brother to Philip Manwaring, Esq. ; of whom descended Sir Thomas Manwaring, Knt. and Bart. The said Christopher Holford was grandson" and heir to Sir John Hol- ford, and of Margery his wife^ sole daughter and heir of Ralph Brereton of Escoyd, second son of Randle Brereton, grandson and heir of Sir Randle Brereton of Malpas, Knt." and of Alice his wife, daughter and coheir to William de Ipston, by Maud, heir to Sir Robert Swynerton, Knt. by Elizabeth his wife, daughter and coheir to Sir Nicholas Beake, and of Jane his wife, only daughter of Ralph Earl of Stafford, by his second wife, Catharine, daughter and coheir of Sir John dc Hastang of Chebsey, in com. Staff. And this family of Cholmondley, by the marriage of the Holfords with the daughter and heir of Brereton, is also mater- nally descended from Alice, fourth daughter of David, Earl of Huntingdon, third son of Henry, Earl of Huntingdon, son of Da- vid, King of Scotland; the Earldom of Huntingdon y being for some time in the royal line of Scotland. And the said Alice was also, by her mother,^ descended from the Earls of Chester ; she being eldest daughter of Hugh Kiveliock, Earl of Chester, and sister and heir of Randle, Earl of Chester.
The said Mary, Lady Cholmondley, had a great contest with George Holford of Newborough, about the lands that descended to her by the death of her father, Christopher Holford, Esq. : which,* after it had continued for above forty years, was at length, by the mediation of friends, composed : and on the partition, she had the manors and lordships of Holford, Bulkeley, and other large possessions. This Lady in her widowhood resided at Hol- ford, which she rebuilt and enlarged; and by conducting, with spirit, the great suit beforementioned, was styled by James I. " The bold Lady of Cheshire." She had issue, by Sir Hugh Cholmondcley, six sons and three daughters j
Mary, married to Sir George Calveley of Ley, in com. Cestr. Knt. i Lettice, wife to Sir Richard Grosvener of Eaton, Knt.
" Ex Stem, de Famil, de Holford. X Ex Stem, de Fam. Brereton & Ipston. y Dugdale's Baronage, Vol. I. p. 608, 609. z Ibid. p. 33, & 45.
» Leicester's Antiq. of Chesb. p. 344.
28 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
and Bart. ; and Frances, wedded to Peter Venables, Baron of Kin- der ton.
Of the sons, three died unmarried. The others were Robert5 Hugh, ancestor to the present Earl of Cholmondeley j and Thomas, seated at Vale-Royal,^ married Elizabeth, daughter and heir of John MinshuU of Minshull, Esq. and departing this life on January 3d, l652, was buried at Minshull, having had issue Thomas Cholmondeley of Vale-Royal ; Robert, second son, who died on September 4th, l658j Francis, third son 3 Mary, married to Thomas Middleton, Esq. eldest son of Sir Thomas Middleton of Chirk-castle j Catharine,'' wife to Charles Mainwa- ring of Ightfield, in com. Salop, Esq. 5 and Elizabeth, who died unmarried. The said Thomas, eldest son, was one of the Knights of the shire for the county of Chester in the reign of Charles II. and by his first wife, Jane, daughter of Sir Lionel Talmash, Knt. and Bart, (grandfather of Lionel, first Earl of Dysart of his name), had issue one son, Robert, and three daughters 5 Eliza- beth, married to Sir Thomas Vernon, of Hodnet, in com, Salop, Bart. ; Jane, who died unmarried 3 and Mary, wedded to John Egcrton of Oulton, in com. Cestr. Esq. His second wife was Anne, daughter of Sir Walter St. John (and sister to Henry, late Lord Viscount St. John), and by her (who died in Dec. 1/42, aged ninety-two), had issue two sons and a daughter; Charles, who succeeded to the estate; and Seymour, who married Eliza- beth, eldest daughter of John Lord Ashburnham, widow of Robert Cholmondeley, of Holford, Esq.; and dying on July 26th, 1739, at Arden, in Cheshire, left no issue by her. His daughter was Johanna, married to Amos Meredith, Esq. son and heir to Sir William Meredith, of Henbury, in Cheshire, Bart. Robert, eldest son of the said Thomas Cholmondeley, married Elizabeth, sister to Sir Thomas Vernon, Bart.= and deceasing 1679, leaving one daughter, Ehzabeth, married to John Atherton, of the county Palatine of Lancaster, Esq.'i the estate devolved on his brother,
a Vale-Royal was the site of an ancient abbey. See an Elegy or Ode on it, among T. Warton's Poenris.
•> Born 1641; married 1657; died 1702.
c Sir Thomas Vernon left a son, Richard, who died S. P. in Poland ; and a surviving daughter, Henrietta; who dying 1752, left her estate at Hodnet to her cousin, Mrs. Heber.
«1 Elizabeth, their daughter and heir, married, 1722, Thomas Heber, Esq. of Marton, in Yorkshire ; who dying 1752, was grandfather of the present Richard Heber, Esq. of Marton and Hodnet, well known in the literary world. IFhiialers Craven, 68.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. s§
Charles Cbolmondley, of Vale-Royal, Esq. one of the Knights for Cheshire in eight several parliaments, from 1/22 till his death, 1759; who married Esses, eldest daughter of Thomas Pitt, Esq. (and sister to the late Countess of Stanhope), by whom he had issue (who lived to maturity"), four daughters; Essex, Jane, Mary, and Elizabeth; of whom, Jane was married in August, 1/32, to the third son of Owen Merrick, Esq. of Bodorgan, in Anglesey, for which he was member 1 Geo. I. ; and one son, Thomas, his heir, one of the Knights for the county of Chester, on his father's death, 1759; and again 1762. His son, Thomas Cholmondeley, Esq. was elected for the same in 1796, and continues to rppresen it to this day. 4SP^^^*>rrJ'-i^-^Mx L^-\h^^-^ '^*- I now return to Robert, eldest son of Sir Hugh Cholmonde- ley; who being' a well-deserving person, and enjoying an ample estate, was, upon June 29th (I61I), 9 Jac. I. advanced to the dignity of a Baronet^ being the 36th order of creation : also by Charles I. was advanced to the degree of a Viscount of the king- dom of Ireland, by the title of Viscount Cholmondeley of Kellis, in the province of Lcinsler, in that realm, A. D. l62S. " And afterwards,^ in consideration of his special service, in rai'.ing several companies of foot in Cheshire, in order to the quenching those rebellious flames which began to appear anno 1(542, and sending many other to the King, then at Shrewsbury (which stood him iu high stead in that memorable battle of Kineton, happening soon after), as also raising other forces for defending the city of Chester, at the first siege thereof by his ^Majesty's ad- versaries in that county, and courageous adventure in the fight at Tilston-Heath 5 together with his great sufferings, by the plunder of his goods, and firing his houses ; ' was by letters patent, bearing date at Oxford, September 1st, 21 Car. I. created a Baron of the kingdom of England, by the title of Lord Cholmondeley, of IViche-Mallank (commonly called Nantwiche% in com. Cestr. And by other letters patent, bearing date on March .5th next ensuing, was created Earl of the province of Leinster, in Ireland. When the royal power was at an end, and the whole kingdom was under the obedience of the parliament, he was suffered to compound for his estate ; ^ but paid no less a fine for th?. enjoy- ment of it, than 77-121. He was revered for his liberal hospitality, ' his conduct in the government of his country, and other virtues. He married Cathan'nc, daughter of John Lord Stanhope, of Har-
f Bill. Sign, zr Car. I. f Llnyd'i Memoirs of Loyalists, p. 63 1.
30 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
rington, but died without lawful issue, on Oct. 2d, 1659, and was buried by his Lady (who deceased on June 15th, 1657), on the 8th of the same month, in the chancel of the family at Malpas. Whereupon Robert, his nephew, son of Hugh, his brother, be- came heir to his estate.
Which Hugh Cholmondeley, Esq. married Mary, daughter of Sir John Bodville, of Bodville-castle, in Carnarvonshire, and aunt to the Lady Viscountess Bodmin, mother to Russel Robarts, Earl of Radnor. He departed this life at Bodville, on Sept. 11th, \655, and was buried with his ancestors at Malpas, having had issue, two sons and three daughters j but none left issue, except Ro- bert, his eldest son.
Which Robert Cholmondeley, Esq. succeeding his uncle, the Loi-d Cholmondeley and Earl of Leinster, was, for his own great merits, and the services of his ancestors, dignified with the title of discount Chohnondeky, of Kellis, formerly enjoyed by his said uncle, by letters patent, bearing date March 29th,s l6(jl. His lordship married Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of George Cra- dock, of Caverswall-castle, in Staffordshire, Esq. j and departing this life in May, 1681, had issue by her, Hugh, late Earl of Chol- mondeley 3
Robert,'' second son, who died at Westminster-school, Feb. 4th, aged fourteen, and was buried in the Abbey church of Westmin- ster, Feb. 14th, 1678.
George, third son, succeeded his brother as Earl of Cholmon- deley ;
And, Richard, fourth son,' buried in Westminster abbey, A. D. ICSO;
Also one daughter, Elizabeth, married to John Egerton, of Egerton and Oulton, in com. Cestr. Esq. eldest son and heir of Sir Philip Egerton, second surviving son of Sir Rowland Egerton, of Egerton, Knt, and Bart, and of his Lady, Bridget, daughter of Arthur, Lord Grey of Wilton."^
Hugh, First Earl, the eldest son, succeeded his flither as riscoitnt Cholmondeley, of Kellis, in Ireland; and joining with those persons who opposed the arbitrary measures of James II. he was, on the accession of King William and Queen Mary to the throne of these realms, created Lord Cholmondeley, q/A'ampN
g Dale's Cat. of the Nobility, p. i6o. h Seymour's Survey of London, Vol. II. p. 569 ' Ibid,
k His descendant, John Egeiton, of Oulton, Esq. is now M. P. for the city cf Chester.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 31
ivich, by letters patent, dated April 10th, iQSQ, with limitation of the honour, for want of issue male, on the honourable George Cholraondele}', his brother. On March 29th, 1/05, he was sworn of the Privy-council to Queen Anne ; and on Dec. 27th, 1 706, advanced to the dignity of Viscount Malpas, and Earl of Chol- MONDELEY, with the hke entail on his said brother George, second Earl of Cholmondeley. On April 22d, 17OS, his Lordship was constituted Comptroller of her Majesty's household : and on May 10th following, when a new Privy-council was settled, according to an act of Parliament, on the Union of the two kingdoms, he was again sworn thereof j also on October 6th, the same year, appointed Treasurer of her Majesty's houshold. He was also con- stituted by her Majesty, Lord-lieutenant and Gustos Rotulorum of the county of Chester, and city and county of Chester, and Lord-lieutenant of North-Wales ; but was removed from his em- ployments in the year 1713.
On the accession of George L his Lordship was constituted Treasurer of his household, and succeeded to the several honours and trusts, from which he was removed in 1713 j but dying un- married, on Jan. 18th, 1724-5, was succeeded in his estate and honours by his only brother,
George, second Earl, who after being well grounded in learning at Westminster school, and at Christ Church, in Oxford, was, in l685, made Cornet of horse j and on King William's accession to the crown, was made one of the Grooms of his bed- chamber. His Lordship served in all the wars of that reign ; and, at the battle of the Boyne, commanded the horse grenadier guards} likewise at the battle of Steenkirk, when his Majesty attacked the French army in their camp, his Lordship particularly distinguished himself, and was wounded. And hi^ Majesty, in his camp at Promellos, on June 17th, iQq7, declaring three Colo- nels Brigadiers general of horse. Colonel Cholmondeley wos the iirft of them. On July 1st, 1702, he was constiiuied Major- general of her Majesty's forces, and Governor of the forts ot I'il- bury and Gravesend. Also, on Jan, 1st, 1703-4, was declared Lieutenant-general of her Majesty's horse forces.
On George J's accession to the throne, his Lord<>hip was conti- nued in his government of Gravesend and Tilbury forts, as also Colonel of the horse grenadier guards. On Feb. 11th, 1714 15, he was constituted Captain and Colonel of the third troop of horse-guards ; and on March 15th following, created Baron of fewlorough, in the county of Wexford, in Ireland, being itie iirst
32 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
peer of that kingdom created by his then Majesty ; who taking further into consideration his great merits and services, was pleased to advance his Lordship to the Peerage of this kingdom, by the title of Baron of Newburgh, in the Isle of Anglesey, by letters patent, bearing date July 2d, 1716.
On succeeding his brother in his estate and titles, as second Earl, his Majesty, on March 20th, 1724-5, was pleased to appoint his Lordship Lord-lieutenant of the county of Chester, and of the city of Chester, and also Custos Rotulorum of the said county of Chester ; and likewise Lord-lieutenant of the counties of Den- bigh, Montgomery, Flint, Merioneth, Carnarvon, and Anglesey. His Lordship was also constituted on March 25th, 1/25, Gover- nor of the town nnd fort of Kingston upon Hull ; and on April 15th, 1727, made General of the horse; likewise, in October, ] 732, appointed Governor of the Island of Guernsey. He departed this life, at his house, at Whitehall, on May 7th, 1733. His Lordship married Elizabeth, daughter to the Heer Van Baron Piuytenburgh, by Anne-Elizabeth his wife, daughter of Lewisxle Nassau, Seignior de Auverquerk, Velt-marshal of the forces of ^ the States General, and father of Henry, late Earl of Grantham. The said Elizabeth was naturalized by act of Parliament, which had the royal assent, Jan. 21st, 1703-4. And by her (who died on January l6th, 1721-2), his Lordship had issue three sons : 1. James, born Nov. 30th, 170O, and died young ; 2. George; and, 3. James; also three daughters; Henrietta, born, Nov. 26th, 1701 ; Elizabeth, born May 28th, 170.5, married in Jan. 1731, to Edward Warren, of Poynton, in Cheshire, Esq. who died 1737, leaving issue by nrr the late Sir George Warren, K. B. ; Mary, born March gxh, i;i3-14, died unmarried April 1763.
James Cholmondeley, third son, born April Ibtb, 17O8, bore the rank of Major on his first entrance into the army, his commis- sion bearing date May 12th, 1725; and on April 6th, 1731, he was constituted second Lieutenant-colonel in the third troop of horse-guards, in which post he continued till Jan. l/th, 174O-I, when he was appointed Colonel of the '18th regiment of foot, then ordered to be raised; and on Dec. 18th, 1 742, was pro- moted to be Colonel of the 34th regiment of foot. In June^ 1744, the regiment being ordered into Flanders, he made the campaign that year. In 1 745, he was at the battle of Fontenoy, May 1 1th, N. S. and in July after, was made Brigadier-general of his Ma- jesty's forces; in which station he served the remainder of the campaign. On the apprehension of the progress of the rebellion
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 33
in Scotland, his majesty thinking it proper to recal part of his forces from abroad, he was one of the General officers, who came over with ten battalions of foot, which arrived at Gravesend, about the time that the news came of Sir John Cope's forces be- ing defeated at Preston-Pans, on Sept. 21st, that year. Soon after, he was sent to Chester, to take upon him the command of two battalions of foot, newly arrived from Ireland, who marched un- der his conduct, till they joined the army of Marshal ^Vade, then in Yorkshire, under whom he served as a Brigadier-general. And when lieutenant general Henry Hawley was sent to take upon him the command of Marshal Wade's army, the major part of which was immediately ordered for Scotland, to form, with some other forces, an army to subdue the rebels, there likewise he was one of the four Generals, who were entrusted with the command of this army; Lieutenant-general Hawley, Major gene- ral Huske, and Brigadier-general Mordaunt, being the other three j and greatly signalized himself at the battle of F.-dkirk, on Jan. 17th, 1/45-6: but the great fatigue, he underwent in this action, joined with the extreme severity of the weather, unfortu- nately deprived him of the use of his limbs for some time. He was constituted Major-general of his Majesty's forces, on Sept, 23d, 1747, and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-general, oa May 2d, 1754; and thence to that of General of foot in March, 1765. In 1747, he was made Colonel of a regiment of dragoons in Ireland, and from thence was constituted Colonel of the regi- ment of horse-carabineers in Ireland; and on Jan. l6th, 170O-I, was appointed Colonel of the Inniskilling regiment of dragoons, so denominated, from their signal behaviour at that place, when raised there 1689. He died October 13ih, 1/75, without is^ue by his wife, Penelope, daughter of James Barry, Earl of Barry- more, who survived him.
The eldest surviving son, George, third P!arl of Chol- MONDELEY, bom January 2d, 1 702-3, was a member of tlie house of Commons, in two Parliaments, before he succeeded his father j first, in 17''i4, for the borough of Ea-tlow, in Cornwall; and was chosen for Windsor, in the succeeding Parliament, I727. On the revival of the most honourable order of the Bath, he was, on June 17th, 1725, installed one of the Knights-companions; and on May 13th, 1727, appointed Master of the Robes to his Ma- ■ jesty. On the accession of the late King, he was constituted one of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, and Governor of Ches- ter. And on the establishment of the household of Frederick,
VOL. IV. D
84 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
late Prince of Wales, was appointed Master of his horse. His Lordship, succeeding his father, was also constituted, on Nov. 2d, 1/2", Lnrd-Lieutenant of North-Wales, and Lord-Eieiitenant and Gustos Rotulorum of the county of Chester, also Chamberlain of Chester. In May, 1735 (having resigned his post of Master of the horse to the Prince), he was constituted one of the Commis- sioners of the Treasury; and in May, 1/35, wns appointed Chan- cellor of the duchy of L.incaster, and sworn of the Privy-council. On Dec. lOih, 1/43, his Majesty having been pleased to grant to his Lordship the office of Keeper of his Majesty's Privy-seal,' lie was, three diiys after, sworn into the said office at St. James's, his Majesty being present in council, and took his place at the board accordingly. And on resigning it, his Lordship was, on Dec. 27th, 17^4, appointed joint Vice-treasurer, Receiver- gene- ral, and Paymaster-general of Ireland (which he resigned iu 1762), and Treasurer of war in the satne kingdom, having re- signed the Privy-seal to the Lord Govvcr. In 1745, at the break- ing out of the rebellion in Scotland, his Lordship raised a regi- mr-nt of foot for his Majesty's service. His Lordship married, on September 14th, 1723, Mary, only lawful daughter of Sir Robert Walpole, first Earl of Orford^ and by her Ladyship,'" who died in 1/31, at Aix in Provence, and was buried at Malpas, had issue three sons; viz. 1. George, late Lord Viscount Malpas ; 2. Ro- bert; and, 3. Frederick, who died April 27th, 1734, and is bu- ried at St. Martins in the Fields; and one daughter, who died Soon after her birth. His Lordship was continued by his present M;!Jesty, in his posts of Lord-lieutenant, Gustos Rotulorum, and Vice-adiuiral of Cheshire, Governor of Chester castle. Steward of the royal manor of Sheene, in Surrey, and one of his Privy- council.
Robert Cholmnndeley, the second son, born on 1st, and bap- tized 2Sth, Nov. 1727, was some time an officer in the army: but preferring an ecclesiastical to a military life, he entered into holy orders ; and beside the church-livings of St. Andrew's in Hert- ford, and Hertingfordbury, near that town, enjoyed the office of Auditor-geni^ral of his Majesty's revenues in America. He died
June 6th, 1804. He married Mary, daughter of Woffing-
ton, by whom he had issue three sons and four daughters ; viz. George- James, born Feb. 22d, 1752, baptized March 20ih, in the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, who. in 1782, was ap-
1 See Coxe's Sir R. Walpok , I. 735. ■" Aged 26.
EARL OF CHOLMONDELEY. 35
pointed a Commissioner of tlie Excise, from which he retired in 1801 ; Horace, born Feb. 18th, 1753, baptized March l6th, in St. George's, Hanover Square, but died young, and was buried at Teddington; Robert-Francis, born June 24th, 1/56, baptized July 22d. in St. George's, Hanover Square; Mary-Harriet, born April 4th, 1/54, baptized in the parish of St. James, Westminster, killed by the overturn of the Princess of Wales's barouche, Oct. 2d, 1800; Jane-Elizabeth, born October 22d, 1/58, baptized November 20th, in the parish of St. George, Hanover Square, and died an infant j Margaret, born July 8th, 1761, baptized Nov. 20th, in St. George's, Hanover Square, and died an infant; Hester- Frances, born July 8th, 1/63, baptized Aug, 2d, in St. George's, Hanover Square, married Dec 3d, 1/83, Sir William Bellingham, Baronet; Frederick died an infant ; Charlotte died young.
His Lordship's eldest son and heir, George, Lord Viscount Malpas, born on Oct. l/th, 1724, served as a volunteer at the battle of Fontenoy, onMayllth, 1/45, N. S. and immediately after was appointed Aid-de-camp to Sir John Ligonicr, and after had a company of foot conferred on him, in Lieutenant-general Howard's regiment of foot. On the rebellion that happened at that time, he was appointed Lieutenant-colonel of the regiment of foot raised by his father, the Earl of Cholmondeley, for the suppression of the rebels. He served in the Parliament, 1768, for Corffe castle, in Dorsetshire; and for Bramber, in Sussex, in 1762; and was Colonel of the Cheshire Militia, and of the 65th regiment of foot. His Lordship married, on Jan. 19th, 1746-7, Hester, daughter and heir of Sir Francis Edwards, of Grete, and of the College in Shrewsbury, both in the county of Salop, Bart. His Lordship died on March 15th, I764, leaving, by his said Lady (who survived him) one son, George James, now Earl of Cholmondeley; and a daughter, Hester, born in 1755, at Burhill, near Cobham, in Surrey, who married, Sept. 6th, 17/3, William Clapcot Lisle, Esq. since deceased; by whom she had a daughter, born July pth, 1/74, married, Feb. 23d, 1799, Charles Arbuih- not, Esq.
George, third Eakl of Cholmondeley, died June 10th, 1770* aged seventy, was buried at Malpas, in the county of Chester, on 21st of the same month, and was succeeded in honour* and estates by his grandson,
George-James, Me present and fourth Earl of Cholmok- DELEY ; born April 30th, 1740, in the parish of Hardingstone, ia the county of Northampton. His Lordship was for some yean
36 PEEPxAGE OF ENGLAND.
Lord-lieutenant and Gustos Rotulorum of the county of Chester, and Governor of Chester castle. His Lordship, on June 14th, 17S2, was appointed his Majesty's Envoy Extraordinary and Ple- nipotentiary to the Court of Berlin ; on April 25th, 1783, he was appointed Captain of the Yeomen of the Guards which he retained till 1801; and was at the sanae time sworn a Privy Counsellor. On the death of the late Horace Earl of Orfbrd, he succeeded to the ancient Walpolc estates at Houghton, &c. in Norfolk,
His Lordship married, April 25th, 1791, Lady Georgiana- Charlotte Bertie, sister and coheir (with Lady Willoughby of Eresby), to Robert late duke of Ancasler ; by whom he has issue,
1. George-James, Viscount Malpns, born Jan. l/lh, 1/92.
2. Lady Charlotte.
3. William-Henry.
Titles!] George-James Cholmondeley, Earl of Cholmondeley, "Viscount Malpas, and Viscount Cholmondeley of Kellis, Baron Cholmondeley, of Wich-Malbank, alias Namptwicb, and baron ofNewburgh.
Creations.'] Baron Cholmondeley, of Wich-Malbank, alias Namptwich, April 10th (I689) 1 Wll. and Mar. Viscount Mal- pas, and Earl of Cholmondeley, all in the county of Chester, Dec. 27th (I706) 5 Q. Anne; and Baron of Newburgh, in the Isle of Anglesey, in North- Wales, July 2d (1716) 3 Geo. I. Also Baron of Newburgh, in com. Wexford, March 15th (1714) 1 Geo. I. and Viscount Cholmondeley, of Kellis, in the county of East-Meath, March 29th (1661) 13 Car. II. Irish honours.
Anns!] Gules, two Esquire's Helmets in chief, proper, gar- nished. Or; in Base, a Garb of the third.
Crest.] On a Wreath, a Demi-Griphon, rampant, Sable, beaked, winged, and membered, Or, holding an Helmet, as those in the arms.
Supporters.] On the dexter Side, a Griphon, Sable, its Beak, Wings, and Fore-Legs, Or; on the sinister, a Wolf of the second, gorged, with a Collar perflew, Vaire.
Motto.] Cassis Tutissima Virtus.
Chief Seat.] At Cholmondeley, in the county of Chester, and at Houghton, in Norfolk.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 37
HARLEY, EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER.
Some have deduced the house of Harlai, in France (one of the most eminent in that kingdom) from a branch of this ancient and noble family in England : and according to Moreri, there are French authors of this opinion ; for he acknowledges,* " It has been reported,- they are derived from our country : though others maintain, that they are denominated from the town of Arlai, in the Franche Compte of Burgundy, and pretend to have proof thereof."
The family of Harley, in England, is undoubtedly more ancient than the Norman conquest; and has been so illustrious, that those in France may be descended from it 3 though the name may neither be of Saxon, or British, much less of French extraction: for from Hursla, a barbarous Latin word, signifying a wood, comes Hurley, and so it changed into Harlej/,^ a town in Shrop- shire (the ancient seat of this family), according to the learned Sir Henry Spelman. Though others have affirmed Harley to be a Saxon name, and of the same signification with Locas Exer- citus.
In an ancient obiit, or ledger book of the abbey of Pershore, in Worcestershire, is a commemoration of a noble warrior of this rame,c who commanding an army under Ethelred, King of Eng- land, in his wars against Swane, King of Denmark, gave the Danes a great defeat near that town, about the year 1013, and thereby preserved it from spoil and destruction.
We find also, that before'' the Norman conquest. Sir John dc
9 Grand Diet. torn. III. b Ed. Llwyd's Anciq, of Shrop. MS. p. 226a
« Ex Collect. Hug. Thomas, MS. d Ibid.
38 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Harley was possessed of Harley-castle and lordship, and having" married Alice, daughter of Sir; Titus de Leighton,* by Letitia his vife, daughter of Hugh le Brune, brother to William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, left issue.
Sir William de Harley, Knt. who is the first mentioned in the visitation of Shropshire, in the College of Arms, as Lord of Harley in that county. He was one*^ of those eminent persons who attended Godfrey de BuUoigne, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, Alan, Lord High-steward of Scotland, and others of note, in the first memorable expedition to the Holy Land, anno 10C)8, where they obtained many victories against the Saracens, and conquered Jerusalem. In honour of which, this Sir William was with them made Knights of the Sepulchre, an order of knighthood instituted upon that occasion. He died in England, and was buried iu the abbey of Pershore, where his tomb is still remaining, and the only ancient monument there, which was not demolished at the dissolution of abbeys in the reign of Hen. VIII. and it is observable, that the shield of his eflSgies is plain, without any arms, according to the custom of the most ancient times. He married Catharine, daughter of Sir Jasper Croft, who was also a knight of the Sepulchre,? and by her left issue,
Nicholas de Harley, who had to wife, Margaret, daughter of Sir Warren de Bostock, of Bostock, in com. Cest. by whom he had issue William de Harley, who married Joan, daughter of Sir John de la Bere, Knt. of Kinnersley and Clonger, in com. Salop, and by her was father of
Nicholas de Harley, who wedded Alice, daughter of Ralph Prestrop, of Prestrop, in Shropshire, and from them proceeded their son and heir->
Robert, who married Alice, daughter and heir of Sir Roger Pulisdon, of Pulisdon, in com. Salop, by whom he had issue,
Sir Richard de Harley, continuator of the line, and Malcolm de Harley J all which descents are in the visitation of Shropshire, beforementioned ; but all our public records have not been gene- rally preserved till the reign of Hen. III.''*
e Vincent's Visitat. de Salop, ann. 1623. MS. p. 246. ^ Ibid. p. 198
S Vincent ut supra. >> Henry, Lord of Harley, died in laSi, 9 Edw. I. and by Joan his wife, had six sons, all monks : John, the eldest, became professed in the monastery at Worcester, October 21, 1279, Annal. JVlgorn, in Anglia Sacra, Vol.1, p. 502. This John, on his father's death, obtained an indulgence of 11S5 days, in his convent, for the souU of hii parents. The other five brothers were, Richard, a
EARL OF OXFORD, AXD EARL MORTLMER. 39
The youngest son, Malcolm de Harley, or Harleigh, as it was sometimes wrote, was chaplain to £dvv. I. and much in his favour; being employed in the management of the revenues of that glorious monarch, and was his Escheator on this side Trent, an office of great honour aiid trust in those days. In 11 Edw. L he and Sir Guischard de Charne, or Charran, had the custody of the bishoprick of Durham, and accounted for the issues thereof to the King during the vacancy,' viz. from June 13th, to Sept 4th, the same year, and paid into the Exchequer ISiyl. for rents of assize of the manors in the ferm of the city of Dariiam, and in certainties for guard of burgs and ovens, or bake-houses ; also llC)3l. 19s. Id. for tallage assessed upon the manors of the bi- shoprick, and other sums for divers other parts of the revenue thereof; in all, 2(5201. /s. Qhd. In I'igO, the King grants to this Malcolm de Harlcigh (as it was then wrote), styling him his beloved Clerk,'^ the marriage of Margaret, eldest daughter, and one of the heirs, of Brian de Brampton, deceased, for his nephew Robf;rt de Harleigh, son of Richard, dated at Vghtragharder (Aughterarder) June 21st. On August 22d, 1207,1 he was with the King at sea, in the ship called Cog. Edward, near Winchel- sea, and was one of the witnesses to the King's delivery of the Great-seal to John de Benesteed, in the said ship. And attending that monarch abroad, who did not return to England till March 14th, 1298, died soon after: for the King, by writ of Privy-seal, 26 Edw. L" reciti'ng that he was his Escheator on this side Trent, and that Philip de Willoughby, the Treasurer's Lieutenant, and the Barons of the Exchequer, would probably seize his goods and chattels, he commands them to leave enough in the hands of bis kindred for the honourable interment of his body; and that they should send some fit person to all places where he had any goods, to take a true and exact inventory of them, that the King, when he should be certified thereof, might give such orders therein as he thought proper. Accordingly "Thomas de Boyvil was assigned,
monk, at Beaulieu, in Hampshire; William, at Hales-abbey, in Gloucestershire; Walter, at Bordesley, in Worcestershire; Nicholas, at RiifFord, in Nottingham- shire ; and Roger, in a convent beyond sea. Ibid. p. 505. Sir Richard, men- tioned above as continuator of the line, was, perhaps, brother and heir to this Henry, father of the six monks, though he is ftyled Lord of Harley before the 9th luf Edw. I. but that might be by the resign uion of H:nry.
' Madox's Hist, of the Excheq. p. 496,497. Prynne, 3, 307, 353, &<".
^ Pat. 24 Edw. I. m. 14. ' Rymer'sFcel. \\>1. II. p. 791-8x3. .
"> Hift. of the Excbeq. p, 665, 666. " Ibid,
40 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
by letters pitent, to take an inquisition concerning the goods of the said Malcohn, and the Treasurer's Lieutenant was ordered to dehver to Richard de Harley, his executor, 481. 14s. lid. for the exequies and burial of the deceased. He built" that house now called Cliffbrd's-Inn, behind St. Dunstan's church, in Fleet- street j which being seized by the King, for certain debts due from the said Malcolrei, it was granted in 3 Edw. IL to Robert de Clifford, Lord Clifford, who made it his habitation, and had thence the name of Cliffbrd's-Inn ; Isabel, the widow of the said Robert, having demised it to the students of the law. But though that house was seized by the King, yet his possessions were more than sufficient to discharge all his debts; lor it is evident, some of his lands devolved on his brother and his descendants.
I now return to Richard de liarley, elder brother to the said ISIalcolm, and his executor, as before related. The first mention 1 find of him is in 40 Hen. IIL when he was attached to answer to a plea P of Richard, son of Robert de Clifton, that he, with others, came into the wood of the said Richai'd, son of Robert, in BeUesworth, and that his men in the said" wood beat and abused the said Richard and his men, contrary to the peace, &c. And thereupon Richard de Harlcigh pleaded, that the wood was his wood, and, finding some trees felled, he carried them away, as he lawfully might. However, by consent, a perambulation was made between the wood of the said Richard, son of Robert de Clifton, and the wood of the said Richard de Harleigh, in Har- ]eigh. And that Odo de Hodenet, Stephen de Buterleigh, Peter de Muneton, and William de Leighton, four Knights, reviewed the same perambulation, begun on the south of the land of the priory of Wenlock, between the wood and the plain, by an old hedge, to a great elm ; and awarded, that the said Richard de Harleigh may make a hedge from the elm through part of that wood to the green oak, and from thence to the withered oak, and so to another withered oak in the plain.
In the same year, i he was among those of the county of Salop, who, holding lands in capite by Knights sei'vice, to the value of 15 1. per annvim, and not being Knights, were summoned to take that degree, or fine for the same.
la 1204, the Barons, with Simon Montfort earl of Leicester^
o Dugdale's Orig, Jurid. p. 187. P Placita Jur. <fc Assis. in com. Salop, anno 40 Hen. III. rot. 7-< H MS, ^'ot. b. 5. p. 6$. in Bibl. Joh. Anstis, Arm.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 41
havino- taken Prince Edward prifoner, at the battle of Lewes, May J 4th, his Highnefs was held in custody in Hereford-castle, when Roger Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, contrived his escape ; and, being assisted by this Sir Richard Harley,'' they issued out from Wigmore-castle, and delivered him It appears from our historians,' and other authorities, that Mortimer sent the Prince a swift horse 5 with intimation, that he should obtain leave to ride out for his recreation into a place called Widmerfh, and upon sight of a person mounted on a white horse, at the foot of Tillington-hill, and waving his bonnet, he should haste towards him with all speed. Accordingly the Prince, on the signal, set- ting spurs to that horse, overwent those about him j and Morti- mer meeting him with five hundred armed men, chaced them back to the gates of Hereford, and brought him in safety to his castle of Wigmore. Afterwards they were in that great battle of Evesham, fought on August 6th, 12(35, where the Barons were vanquished, and Simon Montfort, their leader, slain. Which viC' tory was a principal means of putting an end to that bloody war, and of advancing this family, when the said gallant Prince ascended the throne.
In 56 Hen, III. he was ' Coroner of Shropshire, an officer, ia those days, of great trust. In Edw. I, it was found, by verdict of the hundred of Condover, that Richard de Harley u held the manor of Harley for three hides of land. He was married before 20 Edw. I. for ''in that year he is mentioned with Burga his wife, in a plea concerning a free tenement and lands in Great Wenlock, In 21 Edw, I. he was summoned to attend the King at Bristol, on the marriage of his daughter to the Earl of Bart}/ as appears by a writ in the White Tower.
In 1297, he was ^summoned to be ready with horse and arms, to attend the King at London, on Tuesday after the Octaves of St. John Baptist, to go with him beyond the seas. In the same year,'^ a fine was levied by him and Burga his wife, and Adam la Bolde, of the manor of La Bolde, granted to them by the said
r Hist, de la Maison de Harley, par M. Moret, MS. fol. 4, » Mon. Ang, Vol, II, p. 223. &. MS, in Bib). Bod. Med, 10. 120. b. t Piac. Jur. & Assisae, & Plac. Coron. apud Salop. 56 Hen. Ill, rot. 13.
" Inter Inquis. pro Hundred, in Cur. Rccept. Scac. X Plac. Jur. & Assis. apud Salop. 20 Edw. I. Rot. 15. y Ex Collect. Hug. Thomas, z MS. in Bibl. Cotton, sub Effig. Claudius, c. 2. » Jnt, penes Fin, com, Salop. 25 Edw, I. in Cur. Recept, Scac,
42 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Adam, which they convey to him again for life, paying n rote annually, remainder to the said Richard de Harleye, and Burga, and thfir heirs. She was the sole daughter and heir^ of Sir An- drew de Willey, son and heir of Warrin de Willegh, or Willey, by Petronella his wife, daughter and heir of Robert, son of Odo, Lord of Kinlegh, in com. Salop. And by this *^ match, divers fair lordships accrued to this family; as Willey, Gretenton, Walder- hope, Walle under Eywood, and Rushbury j beside what came by the heir of Kinlegh.
In 27 Edw. L the King sent him ''a letter, ftyling him his be- loved and faithful Richard de Harleigh, commanding him to be at Berwick upon Tweed, with such foot soldiers as he had raised, to march against the Scots.
In 28 Edw. L this ^Sir Richard Harley, Robert Corbet, and Robert de Roscale, were the three Knights chosen for Shropshire, whom (he *^King (to satisfy his Earls and Nobles) impowercd, as Justices in the said county, to punish all offences against the ar- ticles of Magna Charta, the Charter of the Forest, and the Statute of Winton, not punishable by the common laws of the realm. And the same year being chosen s one of the representatives of the county of Salop, in the Parliament held at Westminster, he had a writ directed to the Sheritl', for his expenses.
In 29th Edw. I. he'^ was Sheriff of Shropshire, and had a spe- cial letter' from the King, to attend him with horse and arms at Berwick. And it is probable he was then made a Knight Ban- neret j for, among the collections of the late Sir Henry St. George, Garter King at Arms, are the names of the Knights, who served Edw. I. in his wars in Scotland, with their arms curiously painted, taken from an old roll, wherein this '^ Sir Richard Harley is men- tioned, with his arms. Or, a Bend, cotised Sable.
In 30 Edw. I. he' obtained a grant of free warren witlxin his lordships of Harleigh, Kenleigh, Willeigh, Gretenton, Hatton, Wilderdehope, Rushbury, and La Bould. He was '" also in that
•> Vincent's Vis't, ut supra. c Ex Collect. W. Holman de com. Essex.
^ Madox's Baronia Angl. p. 257. c. 2. &. claus. 27 Edw. I. m. 6. doisy. e Pat. 28 Edw. I. m. 14. f Pryn's Hist, of K.John, Hen. III. and Edw. I. p. 830 E Pryn's fourth Part of a Brief Regist. p. 10. ^ Fuller's Worthies in eod. Com. J Ryley's Plac. Pari. p. 482. & Claus. 29 Edw. I. ^ MS. n. 20. p. 34. in Bibl. Jih. Vicecom. Perceval. ' Ed. Llwyd's Ant. of Shrop. MS. m Fuller, ut antea.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 43
year Sheriff of Shropshire, which was then an office of great trust and power.
In 33 aad 34 Edw, L " attending again in Parliament, as Re- presentative of the county of Salop, he had his expenses allowed: and in 35 Edw. l. was elected, with John de Dene, Knights for Shropshire, being the longest Parliament in that King's reign : yet, as Pryn observes (in the fourth part of ^ Brief Register, isfc. p. 28.) it lasted not full two months; but in that space made some good laws, and transacted several grand affairs, occasioned by the Scots rebellion, and crowi;;ng Robert Bruce their King; the marriage of Prince Edward, and divers weighty public af- fairs.
In the reign of Edw, 11. he was elected in four several Parlia- ments, one of the Knights for the county of Salop," viz. in the fourth, fifth, eighth, and ninth of that Monarch. In 3 Edw. II. heP was one of the three, with the Sheriff of Shropshire, to whom the King directed his letters, to put in execution the ar- ticles for observing the statute made in the Parliament held at Winchester. In 1311, having the custody of the lands of the Knight' s-Templars, and of the Bishop of Litchfield and Coventry, he had i command from the King, to pay the issues thereof into the Treasury, on the morrow of St. Hilary, In 7 Edw. II. he'' and William de Mortimer, were assigned Justices of assize for the county of Salop, and causes were tried before them, on the Wednesday before the feast of St. Ethelbert, the King and Martyr.
This Sir Richard Harley died'' about 13 Edw. II. and Burga, his widow, was styled Lady of Willegh, and Kinlet, in Shrop- shire, in an acquittance dated 44 Edw. II. whereby she released to the monks of Wenlock, certain rents due to her. They had issue, Robert; Mglcolm ; and Henry, who was a priest; and probably ^John Harley, Sheriff of Worcestershire in 40 Ed- ward III.
Of Henky it is related," that in 2 Edw. III. he had a great contest concerning the deanery of Bridgenorth, occasioned by
n Pryn's Fourth Part, ut supra. o Pryn, p. 74.
P Claus. 3 Edw. II. m. 7. &. Ryley's Plac. Pari, in Append, p. 523.
<3 Rymer's Feed. torn. Ill, 297.
r Assisa Cap. apud Salop. 7 Edw. II. in Cur. Recept. Scac.
» Ex Collect. Hug. Thomas. t Fuller in eod. Com.
« Llywd's Anti^. of Shropshire, MS.
44 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
having obtained a grant of the same, upon suggestion, that Tho-. mas de Eyton, the Dean, was dead. But he appearing before the King, the grant was revoked, with a special mandate for re- storing of the rightful Dean. Whereupon the Sheriff certified, that both Thomas de Eyton, and Henry de Harley, had raised crreat numbers of men in arms, in order to dispute the right by force ; on which the King commanded the Sheriff to charge both parties to desist, superseding the mandate for restoring Thomas de Eyton, till both appeared in the court of Chancery. The parties accordingly appeared, and Thomas de Eyton was re^ stored.
Of Malcolm de Harley, the second son, I find a fine ^" was levied in 5 Edw. III. between him and Burga his mother, of the manor of Gretynton, and sixteen acres of land, and 40 s. rent in Kushebury, the right of the said Malcolm, which he conveys to the said Burga, to hold for life, and after her decease, to remain to Philip de Harley, and his heirs. Also, in the same year, a finei' was levied between the said Burga, who was the wife of Eichard de Harleye, and Philip de Harleye, of two mills, and twenty-three acres of land, with the appurtenances, in Borcwar- deslye, and a third part of the manor of Borcwardesleye, and the advowson of the church, the right of the said Philip, which he conveys to the said Burga for life, and after her decease, to Mal- colm de Harleye, and his heirs.
It is probable this Philip was another son of Sir Richard Har- ley; and ^ in 10 Edw. HI. I find Philip de Harley, parson of the church of Stircheley, and in 42 Edw. III. parson of the church of Rushbury.
I now return to Robert de Harley, eldest son of Sir Richard. In 24 Edward I. his uncle, Malcolm de Harley, obtained for him the marriage of Margaret, eldest daughter and coheir g( Brian de Brampton, as before mentioned j and in 1309, 2 Edw. II. ou proof that his wife ^Margaret was then of full age, the King commanded Walter de Gloucester, his Escheator beyond Trent, to deliver them full seisin of those lands that were in his province, viz. the manor of Brampton, and the hamlet of Weston, with their appurtenances, in the Marches of Wales j the manor of Buxton, with the appurtenances j 33s. rent, with the appurtenances^
" Penes Fin. com. Salop. 5 Edw. III. y Penes Fin. ejusd. Comit. & Ann.
z Fin. Salop. 10 Edw. III. & 42 Edw, III. • Claus, J Edw, II, m. 10.
EARL OF OXFOFxD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 45
in Stowe, in the same Marches; lands in the part of Kinlet^ in com. Salop, and the manor of Ashton, with the appurtenances, in com. Hereford.
Brian de Brampton, father of the said Margaret, died^ on 14 kalends of June (May IQth) 1203, 21 Edward L and her onlv sister Elizabeth, was married to Sir Richard de Coniwal, son of Richard Earl of Cornwal, King of the Romans, brother to Hen. in.
As from this match he acquired a great estate, and their seat of Brampton Castle, having since been the chief seat of the descendants of the said Sir Robert Harley, I hope it will not be thought a digression, if I give some account of the ancient and noble family of Brampton, or Bramton, as it is now wrote.
The before-mentioned Brian de Brampton '^ was the only son and heir of Sir Walter de Brampton, eldest son and heir of Sir Brian de Brampton, Lord of Brampton, Drayton, Bucton, Ped- wardyn, Wiston, Hermeston, Ayston, Kynlet, Foxcot, Walton, and Adrington, by hereditary succession; and in right of Alice his mother, was Lord of Botteley and Condover. He was usually called the Noble Brian, in respect of his noble descent and qua- lities. He married Emma, daughter, and at last one of the heirs of Thomas Lord Corbet, baron of Cans. Aud he was the son of Brian dc Bramton, styled Senior, by Alice his wife, daughter and one of the coheirs of Walter de Remenyle, Lord of Botteley and Condover, in com. Hants. This Brian de Bramton, senior, was of such eminence, that in 1 7 Hen. III. the King '^ requiring hostages of the Barons Marchers for their fidelity, Ralph de Mortimer delivered him Henry, son and heir of this Sir Brian, for his faith- ful demeanour, and he was thereupon committed to the custody of William de Stutevil ; and, it m.ay be, he died under confinement ; for Walter was at IcngtJi the heir of the said Sir Brian, who, in 39 Hen. III. had a ^ grant of free warren in his manors and lands of Brampton, Bucton, Stanage, Weston, Pictes, and Ashton, in com. Hereford and Salop : also at Wautou in Somersetshire. He made his will on the vigil of the apostles Simon and Jude, in 40 Hen. III. and is therein styled Senior. He was the son of Brian
^ Ex Stem, sub manu Joh. Anstis, Arm. Gart. R°g. Arm. and R'd. Brook.
c Ibid. & ex Collecr. Nich. Jekyl de Cast, Hedingh.im in com. Ess;x, Arm. & Rad. Brooke Fecial Ebor.
■1 Oaas. 17 Hen. III. m. 8. in dorso.
c Cart. 36 Hen. HI. & Transcript, ejusd. in Cur. Recept. Scac. in Baga Per- amb. Forest.
46 PEERA.GE OF ENGLAND.
de Bramton, by Alice his wife, daughter of Walter de Nova Mei- nel ; who gave with her, in free marriage, four virgates of land in Foxcott, in the territory of Idelburi; to which were witnesses, E. Bishop of Hereford, Hugh de Mortimer, William de Morti- mer, Philip de Mortimer, William de Burley, and others. John de Brampton was his father, and, by Maud his wife, was related to most of the great men of that age ; she ^ being the widow of Koger Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, and the daughter of William de Breos, Lord of Brecon (now wrote Brecknock) by Eva his wife, daughter and coheir of Williaifc Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, by Isabel his wife, daughter and heir to Richard Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, who married Eva, daughter and sole heir of Dor- mack MacTMorough, King of Leinster, in Ireland. And the said Richard Strongbow was the son of Gilbert de Clare, grandson of Richard Fitz-Gilbert, Earl of Brion in Normandy, and of Rose his wife, sister and heir to Walter Giftbrd, Earl of Buckingham. And the before mentioned William de Breos was the son of Re- ginald de Breos, by Grisold, daughter and coheir to William Brewer, Lord of Torbay ; and he, of William de Breos, son of Philip de Breos, by Berta, second daughter, and at length coheir to Walter Earl of Hereford, son of Walter Earl of Hereford, and of Sibil his wife, daughter and sole heir of Bernard Newmarch, Lord of Brecon (by conquest, and by gift of William Rufus) and of Neast, daughter to Traham ap Cradock, King of North-Wales. And the last-mentioned Philip de Breos, was grandson and heir of William de Breos, Lord of Breos in Normandy, and of Bramber, in com. Sussex, who married Agnes, daughter to Waldron, Eail of St. Clare.
By the foregoing account it appears, how nobly Sir John de Brampton was related, by Maud his wife ; and Sir Brian de Brampton, his father, had to wife, Maud, daughter and heir of Sir John de St. Vallerie, lineally descended from Reginald de St. Vallerie, at the time of the Conquest. And the said Sir Brian was Sson of Brian, son of Barnard de Brampton, surnamed Vnspec, Lord of Kinlet, in com. Salop, in the reign of Hen. I.
I now return to Sir Robert Harley, who, by his lady afore- said, was not only allied to the before mentioned noble families, but she was also near in blood to the great family of Mortimer; being lineal heir (as I have already shewn) to Sir John dc
f Ex Collect. Hug. Thomas & Visitat. de com. Salop. S Vincent's Visitat. de com. Salop.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 47
Brampton, and Maud his wife, one of the heirs of William de Breose, or Brewes, Lord of Brecknock ; who had for her ^ first husband, Roger Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, by whom she had issue, Edward Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, father of Roger, Earl of March, the great favourite of Queen Isabel, mother of Edw. IIL
in 1 1 Edw. IL this Sir Robert Harley had the following re- markable grant : " Sachez twus ' Roger de Mortimer Seigneur de IVygemore avoir doiine Z5 grante a nostre chiere Bachiler, Mon- sieur Rolert de Harley, pour son Ion service iff pour cent livres de argent, la gard du corps Gilbert Jilx is heir Sir John de Lacy, ensemllant ove le marriage mesrnes celuy Gilbert deyns age esteant en nostre garde, tf'c. Donne a Penebrugge Van du regne la Roye ILdwardjilx le Roy Edward unzyme." Camden, in his Britannia, fol. 176, makes a question, whether these Bachelors were not of a middle degree between Knights and Esquires. In Pat. 8 Rich. IL p. 1, m. 4. John de Clanvou is styled Baccalarius Regis. And the word is used, 13 Rich. IL stat. 2. cap. 1. where it sig- nifieth the same with Knight-Bachelor.
In 14 Edw. II."^ he had livery of the lands of vi'hich his father died possessed} and in 17 Edw. IL he is styled Chevalier in two fines 3 the one 'between Hugh de Brampton, of Ludlowe, quer. and the said Robert, and Margaret his wife, deforc. concerning a messuage in Ludlowe, the right of the said Hugh, and the heirs of Margaret. The other was "' between Robert de Harley, Che- valier, and Margaret his wife, quer. and Joan, who was the wife of Gilbert de Lacy, deforc. who grants to the said Sir Robert and Margaret, for life, the manors of Brampton and Bukton, and after their decease, to remain to Brian, son of the said Sir Robert and Margaret, and the heirs of his body ; and if the said Brian dies without heir male, to remain to the heirs of the bodies of the said Robert and Margaret, remainder to the right heirs of the said Margaret.
In the same year, all Knights, and others, who bore ancient arms from their ancestors, were returned into Chancery 5 and, in the list of those for Shropshire," are Sir Robert Harley, and Mal- colm Harley, his brother 3 from which it may be inferred, that
*> Vincent's Visit, de com. Salop. & Dugd. Vol. I. in Famil. de Mortimer. i Cowel's Law Interpreter, sub. tir. Bachelor. k Claus. 14 Edw. II,
* Penes Fin. com. Salop. 17 Edw. II. "" Ibid,
» MS. in BJbl, Cotton. Claud, c. 2.
48 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
his chief residence was then at the castle of Harley, no mention being made of him in Herefordshire.
In 18 Edw. II.° he was appointed to array those forces raised in Shropshire, for the service of the King, against the French in Gasconv ; and was Pone which that King chiefly confided in, for suppressing the Knights-Templars,
In 1 12, 13 and 13 Edw, III. he was elected one of the Knights ■ for Shropshire, in the Parliaments then held. In 12 Edw. III. the King commissioned him"" to march fifty archers and fifty pikemen to Ipswich, being the quota that John de Warren, Eail of Surrey, as Lord of Bromfield and Yale, was to furnish for the King's service. And by another commission of the same date, he* was appointed by the King to muster those forces, and to see that they were well clothed all in a livery, and well armed.
In l6Edw. 111. by a fine levied between him and Margaret his wife, and Philip de Harley,* he settled the manors of Bram- ton, and Bukton, with the appurtenances, after the decease of himself and Margaret his wife, on his son Brian and his heirs, ■with remainder to the right heirs of the said Robert and Mai-ga- ret. In 19 Edw, III. Joan, the wife of Gilbert de Lacy," by a line then levied, settled messuages, lands, and rents, in Ashton, in com. Hereford, on this Sir Robert Harley, and Margaret his wife, for their lives, remainder to Walter, son of the said Robert and Margaret, and the heirs of his body ; remainder to the heirs of the said Robert and Margaret ; remainder to the right heirs of the said Margaret,
In 21 Edw. III. on the death of Beatrix, wife of Peter, Lord Corbet, of Caus, who died seised^ of the barony of Cans, the manors of Munsterley, Yoketbul, Wentenouse, Shelve, Bynne- weston, Foxton, Chelrae, Over-Gother, Nether-Gother, and Baghetrese, in com. Salop, it was found, that Thomas Corbet, ancestor to the said Peter, died seised of the said manors, and left a son, Peter, and three daughters, Alice, Venice, and Emme ; likewise, that the said Peter had issue, Peter, his son and heir, •who married her the said Beatrix: and that the before mentioned Alice became the wife of Robert de Stafford, who had issue by her, Nicholas, his son and heir, and he Edmund, and he Ralph,
o Rymei's Foe.l. torn. IV. p. 7S. P Ex C illcct. Hug. Thomas,
1 Pryn's Brev. Pari. p. 75. f Rymer, torn. V. p. 7.
» Ibid. p. 8. t Penes Fin. com. Salop. 16 Edw, III.
" Fin, com. Heief. 18 Edw. Ill, Jt Esc. 21 Edw. III. n. 55.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 49
then Lord Stafford (viz. at the time when the inquisition was taken), and that Emme, the other sister, had issue, Walter de Bramton, her son and heir, and he Brian, who left two daughters his coheirs, Margaret, the wife of Sir Robert de Harley, and Eli- zabeth, wife of Edmund de Cornwal ; and were nest heirs to the before specitied Peter, Lord Corbet ; Ralph Lord Stafford being then thirty-two years of age, Margaret forty-fix, and Eliza- beth forty-two. The said Peter, Lord Corbet, in 27 Edw. I.' was found, by inquisition, to be one of the next heirs of Roger de Valletort, a great Baron in the West; and ^ died, the year following, seised of the barony of Caus, with its members; which barony, by the death of Peter, son of the said Peter, as before^ mentioned, has been ever fince in abeyance between the families of the Lord Stafford (whence branched the dukes of Buckingham), this family of Harley, and that of Cornwal. And in 21 Edw. IIL the coheirs^ came to an agreement ; Ralph, Lord Stafford, had, for his purparty, the castle of Caus entirely, with the appurte- nances; the Knights fees being likewise parted amongst them. Sir Robert Harley had for his share, the manors of Yokethul, also Yokel ton, Wentnore, Strctfon, Chelme, with a moiety of two water-mills, and one fulling-mill, and of the fourth part of the manor of Byn-Weston. He died in lS4f), leaving Robert, his son and heir; and had also two other sons, Brian and Walter, as the authorities before mentioned make appear; and one daughter, Joan, married to Gilbert de Lacy, Lord of Frome-castle, in Here- fordshire, who was in wardship to him, and was son and heir of Sir John dc Lacy, and Joan his wife.
Robert de Harley, his eldest son, is styled Fatuus (or th'f. Simple) in the genealogy and records. In 23 Edw. HL Hugh de Parrok and Richard More, by deed, dated at Harley,^' grant to Robert Harley and Joan his wife, the manors of Harlej', Gre- tingdon, Kenle, Cherlecote, Bolde, Yokelton, Stretton, Shelve, Wentenere, and the fourth part of the forest of Caus, which they had by the feoffment of the said Robert. In 35 Edw. III. by the name of Robert, son and heir of Margaret, wife of Robert de Harley, he*^ gave twenty-five marks to the King for his relief for the fourth part of the "^ barony of Caus. In 37 Edw. III. by a final agreement between Hugh Parok, plaintiff, and Robert de
r Esc. 27 Edw. I. n. 32. z Esc. 28 Fdw. I. n. 40.
» Claus. 21 Edw. III. m. 19. •> Ex Collect. R. Glover, Somers.
•: Fin. 2,3 Edw. III. Ex Collect. W. Holman. ^ Inter Ped. Fin. com. Salop. 37 Edw. III. TOL. IV. K
50 PEERAGE OF ilNGLAND.
Harley and Joan his wife, deforcients, a settlement was made of the manors of Harley, Gretington, and Wylelve (as then wrote);, on hun and the said Joan his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, with remainder to the right heirs of the said Joan. Also the same year by '^another final agreement, wherein Hugh le Yonge, Clerk, and Hugh Parrok, Vicar of the church of Shawebury, beinc^ plaintiffs, they settled the manors of Yokelton, Shelve, and Wentenere, and the fourth part of the forest of Caus, on the said Robert and Joan, for their lives, with remainder to Fulk, son of Bobert Corbet, of Morton, and his heirs, remainder tathe right heirs of the said Joan : but, by another final agreement the next ensuino year, they ''granted the premises to the said Fulk Corbet, to hold for their lives, in consideration of an annual allowance of 60 1. during both their lives. In 39 Edw. III.? he granted to John Delves, Chevalier, a Knight's fee, and seven shillings rent, with the appurtenances, in Deryngton, together with the homage and service of Richard de Deryngton, and his heirs, in the said town. And in 41 Edward III.'^ reciting, that Fulk, son of Ro- bert Corbet, of Morton, Knight, holds the manors of Yokelton, Shelve, Wentenore, and tlie fourth part of the forest of Caus, for life, by demise of the said Robert and Joan his wife, and that the premises, after the decease of the said Fulk, ought to revert to the said Robert and Joan, and the heirs of Joan 3 they granted the reversion thereof to Roger, son of Robert Corbet, of Morton, 'Knt. and to the heirs male of his body, remainder to the said "Robert and Joan, and the heirs of Joan. In 48 Edw. III.' it is 'set forth, that Robert de Harley, cousin and heir of Malcolm de Harley, held the moiety of the manor of Ashdon, with the ap- purtenances, of the heir of Robert de Mortimer, late Earl of 'March, the King's ward, by the service of a moiety of one Knight's fee. But not long after he departed this life, as is evi- dent from a final agreement in 50 Edward II I. "^ between Joan, 'M'idow of the said Robert de Harley, plaintiff, and Peter de Corne- .wrill, deforciant, whereby the said Peter grants the reversion of the manor of Cherlecote (then held by Brian de Cornewall, Che- valier, and others, for the life of the said Brian), together with the manors of Yokelton, Shelve, and Wentenore, and the fourth ■part of the forest of Caus (then also held by Fulk Corbet for life,
c Inter Ped. Fin. com. Salop. 37 Edw. III. ^ Ibid. 38 Edw. III.
g Ibid. 39 Edw. III. »' Ibid. 41 Edw. 111.
i Ibid. 48 Edw. IJI. k Ibid. 50 Edw. III.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTLMER. 51
\<7ith remainder to Roger his brother, if he survives him), to the said Joan, and her heirs. She^ was daughter of Sir Robert Cor- bet, of Morton Corbet, Knight, and furvived her husband many years. In 4 Rich. IT. being styled Joan,"^ widow of Robert de Harley, she claimed the third part of the manors of Bueld, and Cherlecote, as her dower, against Hamond de Peshall, and Alice his wife; and her claim was allowed. She was also living" in 13 Hen. IV. They had issue an only daughter and heir,"' Alice, married to Sir Hamond de Peshall, of the county of Stafford, Knt. and carried the castle and lordship of Harle}', and a great estate, out of the family ; and the said Alice likewise left issue, Eliza- beth, her sole heir;? married first to Henry Grendon,T who died possessed of the manor of Harley, &c. In 24 Hen. VI. she, secondly, was married to Sir Richard Lacon, Knt. who had issue by her William Lacon, of Willey ■/ from whom descended those of the name at Willey, and Kinlet, Thongland, Holloway, and Mounslow, in Shropshire.
Having brought the issue of Robert de Harley to a period, I now return to Bkian Harley, his brother; who, being in the wars with France, received the honour of knighthood; and was a person of such eminence, that ^Edward the Black Prince re- commended him to his father, Edw. III. to be chosen a Knight of the Garter; but he died before his election. He' ir.arried Ele- anor, daughter to Sir Roger Corbet, of Morton, sister to his eldest brother's wife; and by agreement with his brother, "divided the inheritance of the family, whereby Sir Brian was heir to his mo- ther's estate; viz. Brampton, Bucton, Byton, and other lands iu Wiggesmoreland, He left issue one son, ^ Bryan de Harley, and a daughter, y Eleanor, married to Sir John Bromwick, of Brom- wick castle, in Herefordshire, Knight; Eleanor his wife was, secondly, ^ married to Thomas Cotes.
Bryan de Harley, Esq. succeeding his father, was denomi- nated of Brampton-castle, in Herefordshire; he was Governor* of Montgomery and Dolverin castles, in the reign of Henry IV. which he bravely defended against the famous Owen Glendour-
' Vincent's Visitat. d: com. Salop, m Ex Collect. R. Glover, Somcr?. Fecial. ■■' Vincent's Visitat. de com. Salop. ° Ibid. P iMd.
". Ibid. r Esc. 24 Hen. VI. n. 35. » Ex Collect. Hug. Tiiomas.
t Viiitat. &c. com. Salop, pracd. " Ex Stemmate sub manu Joh. Anstis, Arm. x Jbid.
r Visit, de com. Salop, praed. 2 Ex Collect. Hug. Thomas. a Ibid.
52 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
dwy, who was forced, hy his valour, to return from them; id memory whereof he changed his crest, which was "■' a Buck's " Head proper, to a demi Lion, Gules, issuing out of the Top of " a Tower, triple towered, proper.'' He married Isolda, second daughter of Sir Ralph Lyngayne, of Stoke, Knt. by whom he had issue two sons, Richard, who, dying unmarried,^ was succeeded by Jeffery, his brother and heir,
"Whicli Jefieuy de Harley, of Brampton-castlc, Esq. married,*^ first, Joan, daughter of Johan ap Hany, of Poston, Esq. by whom he had issue, Margaret, wife of Hugh Wolley; and, se- condly,'' Julian, daughter of Sir John Burley, of Burley, Knt, nephew and heir to Sir Simon Burley, Knight of the most noble order of the Garter: whose brother. Sir Richard Burley, was also Knight of the Garter, as was also Sir John Burley, their father j and it is remarkable, that the father aud sons were Knights of the Garter at the same time. From this marriage proceeded two sons, John ; and Brian, killed at Brampton, on Palm-Sunday, by certain felons of Radnorshire. The said Jefferey Harley, by his last will,'^' bearing date Jan. 10th, 1448-9, bequeathed, to his eldest son John, his manors of Brampton and Buxton j and to his younger son Brian, his manor of Byton ; and to his daughter Joan, several legacies.
Sir John Harley, his eldest son, engaging on the part of the house of York against that of Lancaster, in those bloody contests which then happened,^ was knighted in the field of battle, at Gaston, near Tewksbury, by Edw. IV, on May pth, 1471. Hes was Sheriti' of Shropshire, in 21 Edw. IV. and was living in lO Henry VII, as appears by a deed,'' wherein William Hoskins conveys lands, in Byton, to him and Joan his wife. She was 'daughter of Sir John Hackluit,"^ of Eyton, Knt. by whom he left issue Richard, his son and heir j and had also a daughter Alice, wife of Richard Monington, Esq.; and, secondly, to Williana Tomkins, of Monington,
Sir John was buried in Brampton church, where a monument was erected to his memory, and to that of his son Richard ; but was defaced in the civil wars in the reign of king Charles I.
- b Ex Stcmmate ut supra. c Ibid. <i Ex Collect. H. Wanley.
c Ex Stemmate per Anstis & Holm.md. * Ex Coilect. Hug. Thomas.
£ Jekyl's Cat. of Knighrs, MS. h Ex Collect. Hug. Thoiv.as.
' Ibid. &; Visltat. ds com. Sil jp. k Of the same family as l!ic «ompilei- of the Coilcciion •f Voyagrs of that name,
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTLMER, 53
His only son Richard Harley, Esq, in the 14th year of Hen. VIL' was Sheriff of the county of Salop. He married Ca- therine, daughter of Sir Thomas Vaughan, of Tretower-castle, in Brecknockshire, who, by order of the Duke of Gloucester, after- wards Rich. in. was beheaded at Pomfiet, with the Earl Rivers, and others, anno 1483, for their lideiity to the young king Ed- ward V, This Richard Harlcy, Esq. by his marriage aforesaid, was related to the best families in Wales : ™ the Welch genealo- gists deriving the said Sir Thomas Vaughan from the ancient British Princes of Hereford, Brecknock, and Radnor, before the Norman or Saxon conquests ; and from the noble families of the Clares and Mortimers, as also from all the Princes of Wales.
By the inquisition taken at Wigmore," June 27th, 152g, after his death, it appears, that Sir John Harley, Knt. in consideration of a marriage between the said Richard, his son and heir appa- rent, and Catharine, daughter of Sir Thomas Vaughan, Knight, made a settlement of the manor of Brampton, the town of Buc- ton, parcel of the said manor, the manor of Over-Pedwardyne, and divers messuages, &c, in Over-Pedwardyne, Nether-Pedwar- dyne, Walforde, and Borysforde, lix. burgages, and certain lands and tenements thereto belonging, in the town or borough of Wigmore, together with divers other messuages, lands, and tene- ments, in Lengthalle-Erlys, Alfortune, Kyntone, and Leyiitwar- din, in the lordship of Wigmore, in trust for the use of him the said John Harley, Knight, and Joan his wife, for their lives, re- mainder to the use of Richard Harley, his son and heir, and the heirs of his body, remainder to the right heirs of the said Sir John}"^ and that the said Richard died on March Uth, before the taking of the inquisition, leaving John Harley, his son and heir, thirty-eight years old and upwards: and had also two other sons, William and Thomas ^ and a daughter, Catharine, married to Roger Hopwood, Esq.
The said John Harley, Esq. born in 149I, was, in his father'B life-time,P a commander in the wars against the Scots, and sig- nalized himself in the battle at Flodden Field, Sept. oth, 1513. He married, 11 Hen. VIIL Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Crofts, Knt. by whom he had issue John Harley; Thomas, Rector of Brampton) William 3 Edward 3 Margaret, wife of Thomas
' Ex Collect. Hug. Thomas, k. Visitat. de com. Sjlop. Fuller's Worthies in €od. com.
ni Ex Stemmate pub ma')u Hog. Thomas. " Esc 21 Hen. VIII.
o Esc. ut supr... P Ex Collect. H'-g. Thomas.
54 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Adams, of Elccton, in Shropshire; Joyce, and Elizabeth. After her decease, he wedded Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Rouse, of Worcestershire, Knt. by whom he had issue, Alice, wife of Simon Macklew.i He died on August 6th, 1542, leaving John his son and heir.
John, eldest son and heir of the said John Harley, Esq. on his father's decease, was in ward to the King ten weeks, and being at full age on Oct. 2C)th, 1542, thereujion sued ■■ ovit a special livery of all the manors and lands his father died posessed of, viz. the manor of Bucton, with the appurtenances in Bucton ; the manors of Pedwarden, and Boristorde, held of the King as of the honour of Wigraore, by the service of one Knight's fee : the ma- nor of Byton, with the appurtenances^ and other lands and tene- ments in Byton, held of Richard Cornwall, Esq. as of his manor of Stepleton, in soccage, by the rent of 6d. Also lands and tene- ments, and a mill, with the appurtenances, in Walford, Lent- warden, Atfortone, Wigmore, Bucktone, and Yetone, held of the King in soccage; also lands and tenements in Kingtone; the manor of Bramton Brian, with its appurtenances, held of the King as of the honour of Wigmore, by the service of one Knight's fee; and Bucton-park, with its appurtenances, all in Hereford- shire; the manor of Lysse, and its appurtenances, in the county of Southampton ; tenements in Bukenhille, half the manor of Dowr, tenements in Nether-downe, in Broi^ie, and in Wynds, in com. Salop ; tenements in the Reves, and in Blackbichj in Rad- norshire.
His father, on March 30th, 1541, covenanted with Richard Warncomb, of Hereford, Esq. for a marriage to be solemnized between his said son John, and Maud Warncomb, before the feast of Pentecost then next ensuing, and settles upon them in present, the manors of Byton, in com. Hereford, and Lyssc Stormy, alias Lysse Harley, in com. Southampton, with the re- version of Bramton- Brian, Pedwardin, Boresfcrd, Bucton, Wal- ford ; and the lordship of Nether-down, in com. Montgomery, after the expiration of thirty years; during which time the profits thereof was to provide portions for younger brothers and sisters. This Maud Warncomb was at length coheir to her brother'
1 John Haili^y, B'shop of Hereford, who died 1554, was of a younger brancli of this family.
r Pat. 34 Hen. VlII. ex C'jllect. Humph. Wanley. * VVarncomb's Title to Lugwarden, &:c. MS.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 53
-James Warncomb, Esq. who died possessed of the manor of Lug- Y/ardin, in com. Heref, (purchased by his father Richard Warn- comb, Esq. of Sir John Bridges, in 31 Henry VIIL) and divers other manors and lands. And, on the division of the estate, she had, for her share, the manors of Aylton and Picksley, with lands in Bodenbam, Webton, Gothermet, Leyntall, Stark s, and Elton ^ with several houses in Hereford, and Leominster.
By the said Maud, he had issue John Harley, Esq. slain in the French wars, V. P. ; Thomas, William, and Richard, a learned man, the tutor of his nephew hereafter mentioned j also three daughters J 1. Catherine, first married to John Cresset, of Upton- Cresset ; and afterwards to John Cornwall, Baron of Burford, in Shropshire; she died Feb. l6th, l623, aged eighty-four, and was buried at Burton, in Shropshire; 2. Elizabeth, wife of Giles Nan- fan, of Birch-Morton, in W^ircestershire ; and, 3. Jane, married to Roger Minors, of Triago, in com. Heref. Esq.
The said John Harley, Esq. was Sheriff" of Herefordshire, in 3 Edw. VI. and again in 3 Eliz. It appears that he was Constable of Conway-castle, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.' Sir Henry Sidney, Lord deputy of Ireland, and President of Wales, io a let- ter to Secretary Cecil {dated Aug. 8th, 1.508), desired he might have Queen Elizabeth's letter to Harley, Constable of Conv.'ay- caslle, to receive such Irish prisoners, or pledges, as he should send him, to be confined in the said castle.
His will bears date in December, 1580, and Maud, his wife's, anno 1589; but if he lived to be eighty five years of age, as is asserted," he did not die till the year l6o6 ; as may be computed from his age, before mentioned, on his father's decease. When his body was opened to be embalmed, a stone was taken out of jr, that weighed above sixteen ounces, and was long kept in the family.
His eldest surviving son, Thomas Harley, Esq. of Brampton, born about the year 1543, lived, during his father's life, at Wig- morecastle; was in '^the commission of peace, A.D. 1585, > high Sheriff of Herefordshire, in the 36th of Elizabeth, as also in the last year of that Queen, and in the 1st of James I. in which year he had ^ a grant, from his Majesty, of the honour and Castle of
t Sidney's State Letters, &c. Vol. I. p. 36. " Ex Collect. Hugh Thomas. " Abstract of Humph. Wanley's Extracts of the Harlcian Family. 7 Fuller's Worthies in Heref. z Pat. i Jk, I. p. 9. m. iS.
5(3 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Wigraore. He was likewise/ in that reign, of the council to "William, Lord Compton, President of Walesj and very consider- able in his time for his affluence of fortune, and great abilities; but chiefly distinguished himself by the sagacity of his councils to King James I. against the measures then in pursuit,'' as tend- ing to involve his Majesty, or his son, in a war with his people; which accordingly came to pass, though above twenty years after, and he lived not himself to see his predictions verified. After this sincere delivery of his st-nliments, he retiied from the court, and service of the state, though not without marks of honour and favour from Chales I. and employed his pkntiful fortune in acts of hospitality.
He lived to a great age, dying in March, 1(531 ; and was bu- ried, on the 19th of the same month, at Brampton.
He married Margaret, daughter of Sir Andrew Corbet, of Morton-Corbet, Knt. by whom he had issue. Sir Robert Uarley, KnigliL of the Bath. And, surviving her, he married, fecondl}', Anne, daughter to Walter Griftith, of Burton-Agnes, in York- shire, Esq. sister to Sir Henry Griffith, Knt. by v,hom he had issue James Harley; and Thomas, who was baptized at Bramp- ton, Sept. Gth, lUOl, and was buried at Lentwarden the same year. The said James Harley married, on Oct. 10th, 1610, Anne, daughter and coheir to John Gardiner, Esq. of Brampton,' by whom he had issue, Anne, baptized at Brampton, on July l6th, 1615. He buried his wife there, on June 18th, 1018, and dying himself at Berrington, soon after, was buried near her, on July 14th following; and their daughter atbresaid, on March 27lh, iGig.-i
Sir Robert Harley, only surviving son of Thomas, was born at Wigmore-castle,^ and baptized on March ift, 15 /Q. His mo- ther died when he was very young, and he received his lirst in- stmctions in literature from his uncle, Richard Harley, a man of noted wit and learning; by whom being accomplished for the University, his father sent him to Oriel-college, in Oxford. He continued there four years, and took his degree of Bachelor of Arts :' and thence removed to the Middle-l'emple, in London, where he associated with men of the iiist rank in that society ; and resided there till the coronation of Jamts i. at which he was
a Rymer's Feed. V<.1. XVII. p. 3c. ^ Vitle Phto Rcdivlvus.
«^ Regisr. de Bramton Brian. "^ Ibid. "^ Ibid.
*' Introduction tu the Life of Sir Robert Harley, Knight of the Bath, MS.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER, 57
made one of the s Knights of the Bath, on July 15th, l603. He was in the next year, on July l6th, made Forester of Boring- wood, alias Bringvvood-forest,'' in com. Hereford,' with the office of the Pokership, and custody of the forest or chase of Prestwood, for life. In an Abstract of the King's Revenues,'^ are these en- tries relating thereto: — To Sir Robert Harley, for keeping Bo- ringwood, alias Bringwood-forest, in com. Hereford, 61. 2s. 8d. per ann. ; for the Pokership 30s. 5d. by the year 5 and for keep- ing the forest of Prestwood, ISs. by the year. In the /th of Jac. I. he obtained a grant to himself, his heirs, and assigns for ever, for a weekly market,' and a fair annually, at Wigroore, in Herefordshire. He was elected Knight for the said county,'" in the 21st year of James I."s reign^ and was put into the commission of the peace (as his father" had been), in the 1st of Charles t. On Sept. 12th, 1626, he° had a grant of the office and offices of master aud worker of monies, to be coined in the Tower of London, during life; and on Nqv. Sth following, an ''indenture was made, between the said King and Sir Robert Harley, Knight of the Bath, for coining the monies of silver and gold,i according to his letters patent. To this office was annexed a salary of four thousand pound per ann. as Wiiitlock observes ; '' and that after the King's murder, the parliament having ordered a new coin to be stamped, Sir Robert Hacley refufed to coin with any other stamp than that of the King : whereupon the Parliamtnt ordered a trial of the pixe.to be miide at Sir Robert Hurley's expense; and removed him from his place. While he enjoyed it, to the great improvement of our coin, he introduced that fan,ous artist, Tho- mas Symonds, to be engraver of the dies for the mint.
Being, by his lady," related to that famous General, Horace, Lord Vere, of Tilbury ; there was such on intimacy between
g Philpors Catal. of Knights. ^ Adjoining tlie seat at Downtcn, of Richard Paynj Knight, Esq. and now, I believe, part of his property.
i Pa . 2 Jac. I. p. 21. k Printed, 4to. 1653.
1 Pat. 7 Jac. I. p. zy. m Ex Coliect. Br. Willis, Arm.
" Ex Collect. H. Wanley o Pat. z Car. I. p. 21. n. 17.
P Ibid. p. 24. n. 5. q Ex Collect. Nich. JekyI, de Cast. Kcnningh. in com. Essex, Arm. >■ Memorials of K. Ch.ri-.s, fol. 388. , ' The moiher of his third wife, Briliiana Conway, was Dorothy, s'stcr to M.-.ry Lady Verc, and daughter to Sir John Tiacy. He was therefore not related to Lord Vere himseif.
58 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
them/ that the said Lord, in his will, dated Nov. 10th, J 634, styling him his much respected friend, makes him the first of his trustees, by indenture, Oct. 20th, l634, which he also confirmed by his will. He was one of the leading members in the Parlia- ments of Charles L also captain of a troop of horse in the Par- liament's service, and had considerable influence in the public affairs, as may further appear in the printed histories of those (UTties, "In April, l642, he was chosen, by the King, one of the Commissioners and Council for the advising, ordering, and dis- posing all things concerning the government and defence of the kingdom of Ireland. Pie was a great patron of religion and learning J an enemy to oppression, bigotry, and hypocris\' 5 and protected the puritan ministers against the violence of the courts of high commission, and star-chamber.
He was thrice married ; first, to Anne, daughter of Charles Barret, of Belhouse, in Aveley, in Essex, Esq. by whom he had a son named Thomas, who died young ; and she was buried at Cuxton, near Rochester, in Kent, where there is a handsome mo- nument erected for her. Secondly, Mary, daughter to Sir Francis Newport, of High Ercal, in com. Salop, afterwards Lord New- port, by whom he had issue, John, born at Brampton-castle, on Oct. 18th, 1607, and afterwards buried at Bucknel ; also eight children more, who all died young. "^ This Lady Mary, their mother, was buried at Brampton-Brian, on Aug, 5th, 1(522. He took to his third wife, Brilliana, fecond daughter of Edward, Viscount Conway {^ one of the greatest men oj that age, loth in camp and state, says Collins^, by Dorothy his wife, daughter to Sir John Tracy, of Todington, in com. Gloucester, Knt. sister to Mary, wife of that renowned General, Sir Horace Vere, Lord Vere, of Tilbury ; by which his family became related to the Veres, earls of Oxford; Holleses, Earls of Clare.; and several other noble families. This marriage was solemnized on July 22d, 1623 : and, by the said Lady Brilliana, he had issue, 1. Sir Ed- ward Harley, hereafter mentioned;
t Tx Regist. vocat Sadler, quire 45, in Cur. Piaci'og. Cintuar.
u Pat. 4 April, 18 Car. i. ><■ R gist, de Br-imptcn-Brian.
y I let this stand, to shew with what strange and uniform flattery the old edi- tions of Collins have distributed their p,a s;. This :s nut the first lord Conway, whofe rotable insufficiency is mentior.cd by Clarendon ; but his son, of wlioni th;; noble Historian has drawn a char.:cter in his first volume, p. 141, and who, though here eulogizid as ens ef the greatest s )ldicrs, incurred the most disgrace- ful defeat frs.li tl;e iebils at N-.vburn, in the N'jrth, t^.ac hai'pcnid during tli« u hole war.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 59
2. Sir Robert Harley, Knt.^ who married, on Feb. Sth, 16/0,
Edith, daughter of- Pembrugge, Esq. and widow of Major
Hinton, but died issueless, and was also buried at Brampton, on jN'ov. 18th, 1673 ;
3. Thomas Harley, of Kinsham-court, in com. Hereford, Esq. who, by Abigail his wife, daughter of Sir Richard Saltonstall, JCnt. had four sons, who died issueless.
Sir Robert had also four daughters ; Brilliana, wife of James Stanley, second son of Sir Robert Stanley, Knt, who was second son to William, earl of Derbyj Dorothy, wife of William Mitchell, jn the county of Norfolk, Esq.; Margaret and Elizabeth, who die unmarried.
His Lady Brilliana, fo christened because born while her filher was Governor of the Brill, was highly celebrated for her prudence and valour in the late civil wars ; having ■' so heroically defended her husband's castle of Brampton, against the powerful army which invaded it, that they were, after many attacks, obliged to raise the siege, merely through her skilful management of treaties with the adverfaries, and exemplary courage, which animated the defendants; well becoming a descendant from her warlike ances- tors. This siege of Brampton was begun on July 26th, 1643,'' and lasted seven weeks, in which time most of the town was burnt; and this gallant lady dying in October following, the castle was a second time besieged. And then, after a long and brave defence, though made by Sir Robert Harley's servants only, and the besiegers cannon having laid all the walls and outworks in ruin, it was surrendered and burnt ; as was also his castle of Wigraore (the ancient seat of the Mortimers) together with the church of Brampton ; also his two parks and warren laid waste; besides above forty dwelling-houses destroyed. And as the family has been ever addicted to the love of literature, as well as the ex- ercise of arms, an extraordinary library of manusciipt and printed books, which had been collected from one descent to another, also perished in Brampton-castle, and the said demolition and sack thereof; the whole loss amounting, as it has been computed, to above 50,000 I. Sir Henry Lingcn s estate (who had besieged the castle, and burnt the tovi'n of Bramplon, &c.) was aftei wards laid under sequestration, and the profits thereof ordered to make satisfaction ibr those great damages. Yet so honourable, so coai-
* Reg'St. de Biamptr>n-Biinn. a Ex Collect. H. Thom»s.
^ The Old Regiiur of Brampton, at the end.
60 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
passionate was Colouel Harlej', that after an inventory had been taken of all the personal estate and goods, he waited on the Lady Lingen (Sir Henry being dead), and having asked, " whether that was a perfect inventory, and she had signed the same," he presented it to her, with all his right thereto. Sir Robert Harley wanted not fortitude, hereditary and acquired, to sustain these disasters ; living several years after them, and at last died of the stone and gout, on Nov. 6th, and was interred with his ancestors at Brampton-Brian, "^ on Dec. 10th following, anno l656. His funeral sermon was preached, the day of his interment, by the Rev. Mr. James Froyseid, who, soon after publishing the same, dedicated it to his son Colonel Edward Harley ^ to that, therefore, we refer for his further deserved praise. Among other hardships in his old age, he was imprisoned by the army, on the following occasion: on Dec. 6th, l648, he and his son Colonel Edward Harley having voted, " That the King's answer to the proposi- tions from both houses, was a ground for them to proceed upon, to the settlement of the kingdom's peace," the army the next morning seized on forty-one of the principal members then sit- ting; and Sir Robert, with his son Colonel Harley, being two of them, were conveyed into their great victualling-house, near Westminster-hall, called Hell, where they kept them all night, without beds, and were after driven as prisoners (through snow and rain) to several inns in the Strand, and there confined under guards of the soldiers." See Dugdale's View of the Trouhles, p. 362.
Colonel Edward Harley succeeded his father, as his eldest son and heir, in his estate and virtues : and, being a man of great integrity, was deservedly advanced to great honour. He was baptized at Wigmore, on Oct. 21st, 1624, and was educated at Magdalen-hall, in Oxford, though he did not abide long there. ••He was one of the Knights of the shire for Hereford, with his father, in the last Parliament called by Charles L; and, upon the eruption of the civil war, he was Colonel of a regiment, which he raised himself. In one of his first engagements, in the year l642, he was shot with a musket-ball, which he bore in his body fifty-eight years, even to his grave. He distinguished his valour and expertness in arms, in several battles; and, in the year l644,* he was niada governor of Monmouth ; also, the year after, of
t Kcgisr, de Br.impton. d Ex Collect. B. Wiliis, Arm.
^ Wiiitlock's Mc.Tio'rs, p. lo:.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 61
Cannon -Frome, a garrison between Worcester and Hereford. In 1647/ he was one of the eleven members in the House of Com- mons, who, by reason of their firmness in promoting a peace with. the King,§ were impeached by the army of high treason ; " For that, by their power in the house, the ordinance for disbanding the army did pass 3" and threatened, if they were not expelled, they would march up to Westminster : whereby the rest of the members were so intimidated, as to exclude them the house. But, being some time after again admitted, he and his father. Sir Robert Harley, were, by the army, made prifoners, as alr-ady mentioned in the account of Sir Robert. In 1656, being chosen by the county of Hereford, one of their representatives in Parlia- ment; and Oliver Cromwell having secluded him, with several other members who would not be subservient to him; he was one of those who signed and published a remonstrance,'^ '^ That they would not be frighted or flattered to betray their country, and give up their religion, lives, and estates, to be at his will, to serve his lawless ambition." And in very pathetic terms, set forth the depredations of Cromwell, and the power he had assumed ; protesting, that the assembly at Westminster was not the repre- sentative body of England ; and " That all such members as shall take on them to approve the forcible exclusion of other chosen members, or shall sit, vote, or act, by name of the Parlia- ment of England, while, to their knowledge, many of the chosen members are so by force shut out, ought to be reputed betrayers of the liberties of England, and adherents to the capital enemy of the commonwealth."
In the Parliament which restored Charles II. he was one ,of the members for the county of Hereford. He approved himself such a faithful assertor of the royal cause, and was so instrumental to the restoiation, that meetin-j the King at Dover, upon his first return to his dominions, his Majesty made him Governor of Dun- kirk ; and he went directly to take possession of it, that the town might not fall into the hands of the French, as General Monk told him otherwise it would. He also preferred a petition to the council, wliich Mr. Annesley reported to the House of Commons, on June 29ih, 16OO,* and was referred to a committee, to tak«
f Ibid. p. ^56. and Kennet's Hisr. of Engl. Vol. III. fol. i6S. S Upon this occasion Baxrer mentions him : he calls him, " a sober and truly religious man ; the worthy son of a most pious father, Sir Robert Harl'y.*' Life, />. 60.
* Whitlock, p. 643. i J^urc. Dom. Com.
62 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
into consideration the establishment of a government at Dunkirk, what number of men would be necessary to be continued, and upon what pay ; and thereupon to prepare an establishment, and report it to the house, with their opinion, how provision may, with most conveniency, be made for the settled payment thereof.
His said government of Dunkirk was soon after confiroKd by the King ; the warrant made to him for life, which he chose to have altered to during pleasure 3 telling the then Solicitor-gene- ral, that he would never serve any Prince longer than he desired. The commission was therefore drawn up in these words (of which there are copies in the office of records) :
" CHARLES the second, by the grace of God, King of Eng- land, Scotland, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &cc. To all to v/hom these presents shall or may come, greeting. Know ye, that we, reposing especial trust and confidence in the great in- dustry, judgment, approved abilities, and good atfections, of our trustie and welbeloved Colonell Edward Harley, have constituted, ordained, and appointed, and by these presents, of our especiall grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, doe constitute, or- deyne, and appoint the said Colonell Edward Harley, Governour o£ our town, port, and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, in West Flaundcrs, and of all the forts, fortifications, and our other strong holds and havens thereunto belonging : to have and to hold the said office or place of Governour of our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, and of all the forts, fortifications, and other strong holds thereunto belongiiig, unto the said Colonell Edward Harley, during our pleasure j with all privileges, profits, allowances, duties, fees, emoluments, per- quisites, commodities, thereunto incident and belonging, in as large and ample manner, and forme, as any person or persons heretofore exercising and executing the said office of Governour of our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mar- dyke, iormerly enjoj'ed and received, for the exercise and execu- tion theieof. And for the better ordering and governing of all and every of our ofiicers and souldiers already placed, or hereafter to be placed within our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dun- kirke, and Mardyke, and the forts thereunto belonging, wee do by these presents give full power and authoritie to the said Colo- nell Edward Harley, from time to time, upon any just occasion, to remove, displace, and cashiere all and eyerie officers and soul-
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 6s'
dierSj officer and souldier nowe placed, or hereafter to be placed in our said towne and guarison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, for the defence and safeguard thereof, who, for contempt and dis- obedience, or any reasonable cause, shall deserve the same ; and, in Jiis or their places so removed, to admit and place others as often as occasion shall require, and to put in execution the law martiall against notorious offenders, for the prevention of all mu- tinies, rebellions, and insurrections, within our said towne and guarison of Dunkirke and Mardyke, and other the places afore- said: and from time to time to doe and execute all and every such lawful act and acts, thinge and things whatsoever, as may- tend to the safetie and well governing of our said towne and gua- rison of Dunkirke, and Mardyke, and other the places aforesaid: in as ample manner and forme, as any person or persons formerly Governour or Governours of the said towne and guarison have lawfully executed and performed. And further, for that the said Colonel Edward Harley may have urgent occasions sometimes lo absent himself from his said charge and command, we have given and graunted, and by these presents doe give and graunt unto the said Colonell Edward Harley, in case of such his absence, full power and authoritie to nominate, substitute, and appoint, one or more deputie or deputies, for whom hee tlie said Colonell Ed- ward Harley will be answerable : to which deputie or deputies, we do hereby give full power and authoritie, in the absence of the said Colonel Edward Harley, lo do and execute all the powers and authorities hereby given to the said Colonel Harley, in as large and ample manner as the said Colonel Harley might or ought lawfully doe and execute, if hee were present. Willinge and hereby streightly charginge and commanding all our officers, as well civill as martial!, and all, and all manner our loveinge subiefts, within our said towne, porte, and guarison of Dunkirke and Mardyke, and places aforesaid, to be aydeing, assistant, and obedient unto the said Colonell Edward Harley, or any other authorised, by, or under him as aforesaid, in the due execution of his said office and place, as they and everie of them will an- sweare the contrary at their perils. In witness whereof, wee have caused these our letters to be made patents. Witness our selfe at Westminster, the fourteenth day of Julie, in the twelfth years of our reign."
By theKinge,
HOWARD.
04 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
During the short space of tulic he held this government of Dunkirk^ he '^ recruited the garrison to above nine thousand men, and be^an many fortiticatiuns, which were afterwards perfected by the French. And, as a singular pattern of incorruptible fide- lity, be it remembered, to his lasting glory, that no honours, no rewards, could make him act contrary to the interest of his coun- try. He was so far from uniting with those who consented to the sale of Dunkirk to the French, that he strenuously opposed it- and by his interest, got the ' House of Commons to pass a resolution to prepare an act that it should never be alienated, but be made a part of the King's hereditary dominions. Nor could he be prevailed on, by threats or promises, or even by great bribes, to relinquish that resolution. And it must be more particularly remembered,'" that he refused the dignity of Peerage; also an otfer m:ide him, by a certain great man, of ten thousand pounds, to be passive in the surrender of that place, and forbear his pro- secution of a law, to annex Dunkirk to the crown of England. However, the court being determined to sell the town, he received the following order at Dunkirk, on May 25th, by the hands of Major Floyi :
'< Charles R. " WHEREAS, we have given commission to our right trusty and well-beloved Andrew, Lord Retorfort, to bee Governour of the said garrison, and to take charge of the said garrison, with all the forts and strengths thereof, and of the ordnance, arauni- tion, and other furniture of war, in or belonging to the said garrison : these are to require you. Sir Edward Harley, Governor of the said garrison of Dunkirke, upon sight hereof, to surrender and deliver up the said garrison of Dunkirke, with all the forts and strengths therein, or therewith under your command ; and all the ordnance, arms, ammunition, stoares, and other furniture and utensils of war, with all provisions, cloathes and necessaries belonomg to the said garrison, or now therein for publique use, or in any of the forts and strengths, that are under your com- mand, unto Andrew, Lord Retorfort aforesaid, for our service; taking the said Lord Retorfort's receipt for all the particulars you shall so deliver up unto him, which shall be your discharge
^ Hist, de la Mjison dc Harky, par Mons. Morct, MS. ' K.enn(,i"s Hist, of Kn;;l. Vol. Ill, p. 159. " Moi£t ut supra.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 65
for the fame. Given at our court at Whitehall, this 22d day of
May, in the 13th year of our reign.
To our trusty and well- by his Majcstie's Command,
b:loved Sir Edward Harley, ._. _ •» «• .-^ -r, ^ ^ ^^
Knight of the Bath. WILL. MORICE.
Having seen the Lord Retorfort's discharge, here follows an exact copy of it.
"I doe heirby certify, that in obedience to his Majesties or- dres of the tuentie tuo of May, 1661, to the richt honorable Sir Edward Harley, he hath surrendered and delyvered up to me his Majesties garrison of Dunkerk, with all the forts and strengths thereunto belonging, and all the ordonnances, amies, ammunition, stores and other furniture and ustencelles of warr, with all pro- visions or other necessaries belonging to the said garrison. For the which I have given, to the said richt honorable Sir Edward Harley, this ray recept to serve for his discharge. At Dunkerk, this tuenty cicht May, 1661."
RETORFORT.
It appears that the King allowed 12001. weekly, for maintain- ing the garrison of Dunkirk, and Mardyke," and that Sir Edward Harley left in the hands of Thomas de la Vail, Deputy-treasurer of Dunkirk, 127,7521. 15 s. for which the Lord Retorfort, his successor, afterwards Earl of Tiviot, gave his receipt, bearing date May 29th, 1661.
Upon the expense of the King's marriage, and that of settling the Queen mother in a splendid court at Somerset-house, France took the opportunity to complete their bargain for Dunkirk. ** The first motion to the King for complying therewith, as my author says," he was assured by a knowing man, was the great expense in keeping itj. which Ruterfort the Governor had in- creased to an exorbitant degree, since the dismission of Sir Ed- ward Harley," It was sold for 500,0001. and ingloriously put into the possession of the French, under the government of the Count D'Estrades, p the English governor Rutherfort, with two companies guarding the gates, at their entrance, and delivering the keys.
" Sir Edward Harley's Account of the Expenses and Treasure at Dunkirk, MS.
o Echard's Hist, of England, Vol. III. p. 84. P Kennet's His^. of England, Vol. III. p. 259. VOL. IV. F
66 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND,
Lord Lansdown, in his vindication of General Monk, gives tlii* account of Sir Edward Harley : " General Monk foresaw early what might hjppcn to be the fate of Dunkirk, and took his pre- cautions in the very beginning to preserve it, by placing Sir Ed- ward Harley in the command, a man of public spirit, firm to the interest of his country, and not to be biassed, tempted, or deluded to be assisting in any thing contrary to it. This appeared plainly afterwards j for the first step taken, as soon as the treaty was projected , was to remove that gallant man, and place another Governor in his stead,"
When Sir Edward Harley returned into England, and had de- livered up his accounts, which appeared unexceptionable to the council, he took his leave of the King on that occasion, and told him before the Duke of Albemarle, that the guns, stores, arms, and ammunition he left at Dunkirk, were worth more money than the French were to give for the place. He also told the King, he should leave him one thing more, which his Majesty n}ight not think of, i and that was 10,0001. he had saved in an iron chest against a siege, or any other exigence which might happen. Upon the whole, he acquitted himself so honourably, that the King was pleased to give him the following gracious release :
'^ CHARLES the second, by the grace of God, King of Eng- land, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &c. To all to whome theise presents shall come, greeting. Whereas our trusty and well-beloved Sir Edward Harley, Knight of the Bath, hath performed and done unto us many eminent and accep- table services, which wee do hereby, and shall always acknow- ledge, particularly in his singular care, and conduct, and vigilance, while hee was Governour for us of the towne, port, and garrison of Dunkirk, and Mardlke, in West Flanders, and of all forts, fortifications, and other strong holds and havens thereunto be- longing. And whereas the said Sir Edward Harley having, in obedience to our comand, delivered up the said garrison of tlie said towne of Dunkirk, and Mardike, into the charge of our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin, Andrew, Earl of Tiveot (then Lord Rultherford) did present to the Lords of our Privy- council, an accompt of the disbursements of money, during his the said Sir Edward Harley's service there, with a true state of the
1 Ex Cjllect. Joh. F.eind, M.D. MS,
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 67
regiments, money, victualls, artillery, amunirion, and all other provisions belonging to the said garrison, and received from him by the said Earl of Tiveot. Which accompt the said Lords of our councell did approve and cause to be entered into the ccun- cell book. Know yce therefore, that wee of our especiall grace, certain knowledge, and meere motion, have remised, released, pardoned, and quit claimed: and by theise our letters patents for us, our heirs and successors, doe remit, release, pardon, and for ever quit-clayme, unto the said Sir Edward Harley, his heirs, exe- cutors, and administrators, all and all manner of actions, suites, complaints, impeachments, accompts, debts, prosecutions or de- mands whatsoever, or causes of actions,, suites, complaintes, im- peachments, accompts, debts, profecutions, or demands whatso- ever, cither in law or equity, to us, our heirs and successors, belonging, or in any wise aperteyning, for, touching, or concern- ing any cause, matter, or things whatsoever, acted or done, or sutFred to be acted or done, or omitted or neglected to bee done by him, the said Sir Edward Harley, during his government aforesaid ; or for, touching, or concerning any matter, cause, or thing whatsoever, belonging or relating to his said government of the said town, port, and garrison of Dunkirk, and Mardike, in West Flanders aforesaid. And of the forts, fortifications, and other sti'ong holds and havens thereunto belonging. And our further will and pleasure is, and by these presents for us, our heires and successors, Wee do give and graunte to the said Sir Edward Harley, his heirs, executors, and administrators, that he, they, and all and every of them, his, thcire, and all and every of theire manners, lands, tenements, and hereditaments j and his theire, and all and everie of theire goods, chattells, rights, and credits, shall be and are by theise presents, and from henceforth for ever freed and discharged, of and from all, and all manner of actions, suit, quarrels, impeachments, accompts, debts, prosecu- tions, and demands whatsoever, allready comenccd, or levyed, or hereafter to be comenced, prosecuted or levyed on the behalf of us, our heires and successors, for any cause, matter, or thing whatsoever, touching, belonging, or relating to his the said Sir Edward Harley 's said government of the said towne, port, and garrison of Dunkirk, and Mardike, and the ."brts, fortifications, and other the strong holds and havens thereunto belonging: any statute, provision, lawe, grant, commission, constitution, decree, or whatsoever to the contrary thereof, in any wise notwithstand- ing j although expresse mention of the true yearly value or cer-
QS PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
teinty of the prcmlsees, or any of them, or of any other guifts, or grants by us, or by any of our progenitors or predecessor* heretofore made, to the said Sir Edward Harley, in theise pre- sents, is not made, or any other statute, act, ordinance, provision, proclamation, or restriction heretofore had, made, enacted, or- deyned or provided, or any other matter, cause or thing whatso- ever to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. In witness whereof, wee have caused theise our letters to be made patents. Witness our selfe at Westminster, the third day of De- cember, in the fifteenth year of our reigne."
By writt of Privy Scale,
HOWARD.
When Cliarles IL made a creation of Peers upon his restora- tion. Sir Edward Harley had the ofier of a warrant for a Viscount, which he, with great modesty and duty to the King, declined accepting of ; and gave this reason for it, " lest his zeal and his services, for the restoration of the ancient government, should be reproached, as proceeding from ambition, and not conscience :'' and so nice was he in this point, that his being made Knight of the Bath was done without his knowledge; he being then at Dunkirk, and the King inserted his name in the list with his own hand.
He was one'" of the Members for the town of Radnor, and for the county of Hereford, in all the Parliaments of Charles II. was much regarded in the House of Commons for his sound reason- ing, and generally closed the debate ; as may be found ' in the printed books, which record the transactions of Parliament in those times.
He was also elected for the county aforesaid, in several Parlia- ments called by King William, to the time of his death, which happened at Brampton-Brian, on Dec. 8th, 1/00,^ and was buried in that church in the family vault.
He was twice married : first, on June 26th, l654, to Mary, daughter of Sir William Button, of Parkgate, in Devonshire (by his second wife, the daughter of Arthur Ascot, of Tetcote, in com. Devon, Esq.) by whom he had issue four daughters; viz. Brilliana, wife to Alexander Popham, of Tewksbury, in com.
f Ex Collect. B. Willis, Arm.
s Debates of the House of Cosnmons; 8vo. i68a.
« Regist. <ie Brampton.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 69
Gloucester, Esq. Martha, wife to Samuel Hutchins, of London, Merchant; and two Maries, who both died young.
His second wife was Abigail, daughter of Nathaniel Stephens, of Essington, in Gloucestershire, Esq. by whom his children were "allied to Sir Francis Walsingham, the famous Sir Philip Sidney, and the great Earl of Essex, By this wife he had four sons, and one daughter.
1. Robert, Earl of Oxford, &c.
2. Edward Harley, of Eywood, in com. Hereford, Esq. whose character and eminent virtues, in public and private life, cannot be more justly set forth, than by inserting the inscription placed on his monument in the church yard of Titley, in which parish his seat of Eywood is situated.
Under this STONE,
By his own Appointment, Lye humbly interr'd The Reliques of the honourable Edward Harley, Esq. Of Eywood, in the County of Hereford, second son of Sir Edward Harley, Knight of the Bath, of Bramton Brian, in the same County, and Brother to the Right Honourable Robert, Earl of Oxford : He married Sarah, third daughter of Thomas Foley, of Witley, in the County of Worcester, Esq. by whom he had three Sons and one Dimghter.
He was Recorder of Leominster, above forty years. And Represented that Borough near thirty Years in Parliament, In which his Skill in the Law, And unwearied Application to Business, And extensive knowledge of public Affairs,
Join'd with a calm and unprejudic'd Judgment, A steady and unbiass'd Adherence to the Constitution, And a disinterested Zeal for the Good of his country. Made him justly Esteemed, One of the great Supports and Ornaments of it.
In 1702, He was advanced by Queen Anne,
To be one of the Auditors of the Imprest. Which important Place he executed to his Death,
With great Care, Integrity, and Ability j
" Histoire de la Maison de Harley, par M. Moret.
70 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND-
And, by his Regulation of the National Accounts, ;
His Service to the Public remains after his Death. Yet his Assiduity in Civil Imployments, Neither lessen'd his Attention to Religion, Nor interrupted his daily Course of Devotion ; The Discharge of his Duty, as a Christian,
Was the Source and Center of all his Desires.
His Hospitality was Great, His Liberality Greater; His Charity private and without Ostentation, Nor ever made known but where it cou'd not be conceal'd. He augmented several small Livings In this County, and in Monmouthshire j He maintain'd several Charity Schools in Both ; And endowed one for ever at Bramton Brian, The Place of his Birth.
From his known Zeal to promote Cliristian Knowledge, And particularly the Instruction of Youth,
In the Year 1^25 He was chosen Chairman of the Trustees For the Charity Schools in London.
The whole Tenour of his Life was strictly Moral, Without Dissimulation, Pride, or Envy ; His Deportment Affable and Humble, His Conversation Chearful and Instructive. He was faithful and constant to his Friends, Charitable and Forgiving to his Enemies, Just and Beneficent to all. And the great Example of Piety and Religion, ( Which shone thro' hisLife, and was most couspi cuous on his dcathBcd ) Is the great Consolation and Blessing, He has transmitted to his Posterity.
He was born the /th of June, l664. And died on the 30th of August, 1/35.
The issue, mentioned in the above inscription, were, Edward, third Earl of Oxford ; Robert, who died an infant j Robert, who was chosen member for Leominster, in the two Parliaments called in 1734, and 1742; was Recorder of the said borough; served in several Parliaments for Droitwich, died unmarried, March 14th,
EARL OF OXFORD, A.ND EARL MORTIMER. ;]
1774, and was buried at Titley, com, Hereford : end Abigail, married to the Hon. John Vcrney, master of the rolls, father by her of the present Lord Willoughby de Broke.
3. Nathaniel, the youngest surviving son of Sir Edward Har- ley, was baptized on March 6th, i6d5, and bred a merchant. He died at Aleppo, in January, 1719-20. Sir tldward had also a son named Brian, who died young; and a daughter, named Abigail, born in l664, who died unmarried, on Oct. 4th, 1/26.
His eldest son, Robert Harley, Esq was born in Bow-street, in the parish of St. Paul, Covcnt-Garden, on Dec 5th, 160I,
He was educated under the Reverend Mr Birch, at J-.hilton, near Burford, Oxfordshire ; which, though a private school, was remarkable for producing, at the same time, a Lord High Trea- surer,^ a Lord High Cbancellor,>' a Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, ^ and ten Members of the House of Commons ; who were all contemporaries, as well at school, as in Parliament. Here he laid that foundation of extensive knowledge, in human and divine learning, in which he afterwards became so eminent.
At the Revolution, Sir Edward Harley, and ihis his eldest son, raised a troop of horse at their own expense, and marched to Worcester, of which place Sir Edward was made Governor, by the Gentlemen of the county; and his two sons were sent, by him, to tender his and their services to the Prince of Orarge, and to give his Higlniess an account of the posture of affairs in those pans.
After the accession of William and Mary, the said Robert Harley, Esq. was first ^chosen, on a vacancy, member of Parlia- ment for Tregony, in Cornwall, and afterwards served for the town of Radnor, from iCpO, till he was called up to the House of Lords. On IVov. ]3th, 1O9O, ''he was ordered to bring in a bill for the better ease of Sheriffs in passing their accounts, and in the execution of their office; and on Dec. 2(3th following, was chosen, '^by ballot, one of the nine Members of the House of Commons, Commissioners for stating the public accounts. On Nov. 3d, ]6gi, on his motion, the Commons resolved, "* " That the paying the army any otherwise than by musters of effective men, is a great wasting of their Majesty's treasure, and ordered a bill for paying the army according to the musters of effective
x Earl of Oxf rd. 7 Lird Harcourr. 2 Lord Trevor,
a Willis's Notit. Parliament, Vol. II. p. 116. '' Vote of the House of Comir.ons, No. 37. « Bp. Kenn-t's Hist, of Engl. Vol. III. p. 609. <) Vote, No. 8.
72 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
men : and for better payment of quarters, and preventing false musters, and punishing mutiny and desertion." And Mr. Harley^ presented the bill to the house, on Nov. 10th following. He was also chosen one of the arbitrators for uniting the two India com- panies.*^
In 1694, the House of Commons made it their first business to order Mr. Harley, Nov. 19th, to prepare and bring in a bill, " For the frequent meeting and calling of Parliaments j" which they had been so earnest for in former sessions. s And he drew up and presented the bill, Nov. 22d, which met with so ready a concurrence in the House, that it was sent up to the Lords, Dec. 13th, who, on the 18th of the same month, agreed to it without any amendments. On Feb. 11th, 170O-I, he was chosen Speaker of the House of Commons.*^ That Parliament being dissolved the same year by King William, and a new one called, he was agaitt chosen Speaker on Dec. 31st following. Also, in the first Parliament called by Queen Anne, he was elected Speaker, whereby he had that dignity in three successive Parliaments.
On April l/th, 1704, he was sworn of her Majesty's privy- council 3 and on May 1 8th following, sworn in Council one of
e Note, No. 8. f Kennet's Hist, of Engl. Vol. III. p. 666.
% It has already been seen, that he was of a stanch Whig family. About this time, Burnet observes, that he fell into opposition to the Whig Monarch now en the throne. " Harley (savs he), was a man of a very noble family, and very eminently learned j much turned to politics, and of a very restless ambition. He \V2S a man of great industry and application ; and knew forms, and the records of parliament so well, that he was capable, both of lengthening out, and perplex- ing debates. Nothing could answer his aspiring temper: S9 he and Foley joined with the Tories to create jealousies, and raise an opposition : they soon grew to be able to delay matters long ; and set tin foot some very uneasy things that ■were popular; such as the Bill agaiest Patiiament Men's being in Places; and that for dissolving the Parliament, and for having a new one every third year." O. T. II. 109.
ii <c "pjje man, on whose management of the House of Commons (says Bur- net), the new ministry, in i 700, depended, was Mr. Harley, the heir of a family which liad been hitherto the moft eminent of the Presbyterian party; his edu- cation vvas in that way; but he not being coi;sidercd at the Revolution as he thought he deserved, had set himself to oppose the Court in every thing, and to iird fault with the whole administration ; he had the chief hand, both in the reduction of the Army, and in the matter of the Iiish Grants. The High Party trusted him, thou^jh he still kept up an interest among the Presbytsrians ; and he had so particul.ir a dexterity, that he made both the High Church party, and the Dissenters, depend upon him ; so it was agreed, that he should Le Speaker." O. T. II. ;e.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 73
the principal Secretaries of State, being also Speaker of the House of Commons at the same time. In 1706, he was appointed one of the Commissioners for the treaty of Union with Scotland, which took effect ; and resigned his place of principal Secretary of State, in February, 1/07-8. On August 10th, 1710, he was constituted one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, also Chan- cellor and Under-Treasurer of the Exchequer. And, having three days after been again sworn in the Privy-council, he was, on March 8th followmg, in great danger of his life; the Marquis of Guiscard, a French Papist (then under examination of a com- mittee of the Privy-council at Whitehall), stabbing him with a penknife, which he took up in the Clerk's room, where he waited before he was examined ; Guiscard was thereupon imprisoned, and died in Newgate on the l/th of the same month. Where- upon an act of Parliament passed, making it felony, without be- nefit of clergy, to make an attempt on the life of a Priv^-'-coun- eeilor, in the execution of his office ; and a clause was inserted, "■ to justify and indemnify all persons, who in assisting in defence of Mr. Harley, Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he was stab- bed by the Sieur de Guiscard, and in securing him, did give any wound or bruise to the said Sieur de Guiscard, whereby he re- ceived his death." And, both Houses of Parliament having ad- dressed her Majesty on the occasion, they expressed their great concern " at the most barbarous and villanous attempt made upon the person of Robert Harley, Esq. Chancellor of your Ma- jesty's Exchequer, by the Marquis of Guiscard, a French Papist, at the time when he was under examination for treasonable prac- tices, before a committee of your Majesty's council. We cannot but be most deeply affected, to find such an instance of inveterate malice against one employed in your Majesty's council, and so near your royal person. And we have reason to believe, that his fidelity to your Majesty, and zeal for your service, have drawn on him the hatred of all the abettors of Popery and faction. We think it our duty on this occasion, to assure your Majesty, that we will effectually stand by and defend your Majesty, and those who have the honour to be employed in your service, against all public and secret attempts of your enemies, &c."
Whereupon her Majesty returned this answer;
" My Lords and Gentlemen, " I take this addrefs very kindly from you, on the occasion of
74 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
that barbarous attempt on Mr. Harlcy, whose zeal and fidelity in ray service must appear yet more eminently, by that horrid endea- vour to take away his life, for no other reason, that appears, but his known opposition to Popery and faction. Your warm concern for the safety of my person, and the defence of those employed in my service, is very grateful to me, &c."
The wound he had received, confined him for some weeks : and the House of Commons being informed, that it was almost healed, and that he would in a few days come abroad, they came, on April 11th, to this unanimous resolution, " That when the right honourable Robert Harley, E^q. Chancellor of her Majesty's Exchequer, attends the service of the house, the Speaker do, in the name of this house, congratulate the said Mr. Harley's escape and recovery from the barbarous and villainous attempt made upon him by the Sieur de Guiscard."
And, attending the service of the house on April 26th, the Speaker (William Bromley, Esq.), addressed himself to him in the following speech :
" Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer,
" When the barbarous and villainous attempt made upon you by the Sieur de Guiscard, a French Papist, was comujunicated to this house, they immediately declared. They were most deeply affected to find such an instance of inveterate malice against you. And obser\ ing how you have been treated by some persons, they concluded they had reason to believe, that your fidelity to her Majesty, and zeal for her service, had drawn upon you the hatred of all the abettors of Popery and faction.
" In this opinion they must be abundantly confirmed, since the Lords, and the Queen, have concurred with them.
" Sir, if your fidelity to her Majesty, and zeal for her service, could ever be doubted, and wanted any testimonials to prove them, you have now the most ample, and the most undeniable, that can be given ; and, afier these, it would be an unpardonable presumption in me* to imagine I could add to them, by saying any thing of your faithful discharge of those great trusts you have been hor.oured with j to which your eminent abilities at first re- commended you, and your distinguishing merits have since justi- fied her Majesty's wise choice,
" Your very enemies. Sir, aeknowledge this, by their unwearied and restless endeavours against your person and reputation.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 75
^' God be thanked, they have been hitherto disappointed, and have not been able to accomplish what their inveterate, but im- potent, malice had designed against both,
" And, may the same Providence, that has wonderfully pre- served you from some unparalleled attempts ; and that has raised you up to be an instrument of great good in a very critical junc- ture, when it was much wanted; continue still to. preserve so invaluable a life, for the perfecting of what is so happily begun ; that we may owe to your counsels, and to your conduct (under her Majesty), the maintenance and firm establishment of our constitution in church and state.
'' These expectations. Sir, have filled this house with an in- expressible satisfaction for your escape and recovery, which they have unanimously commanded me to congratulate. I do there- fore, in the name of this house, congratulate your escape and re- covery from the barbarous and villainous attempt made upon you by the Sieur de Guiscard."
To which Mr. Harley returned the following answer :
"■ Mr. Speaker, " The honour this house has done me, which you have ex- pressed in so obliging a manner, is a sufficient reward for the greatest merit. I am sure it so far exceeds my deserts, that all I can do or suflTef for the public, during the whole course of my life, will still leave me in debt to your goodness. By the accept- ance you have vouchsafed my poor service, how noble an encou- ragement, worthy of you, has this house given all our fellow- subjects, to exert themselves in the glorious cause of preserving the constitution in church and state, and in loyalty to the best of Sovereigns ? This, without doubt, was your view j and this may convince all, who are designedly obstinate, how dear the trae interest of the nation is to this honourable assembly. Sir, the undeserved favour 1 have received this day, is deeply imprinted in my heart ; and, whenever I look upon my breast, it will put me in mind of the thanks due to God, my duty to the Queen, and that debt of gratitude and service I must always owe to this honourable house, to you, Mr. Speaker, and to every particular member."'
' Burnet says, this accident was of great use to Harley, in advancing hi» power.
76 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
The next day the Commons ordered their Speaker's speech to Mr. Harley, and his answer, to be printed.
And having formed a scheme to satisfy all public and national debts and deficiencies, by establishing the company, now called the South Sea Company, her Majesty Queen Anne, resolving to reward his many eminent services, was pleased to advance him to the Peerage of Great Britain, by the style and titles of Baron Haeley, of Wigmore, in com. Hereford, Earl of Oxford, and Earl Mortimer, with remainder, for tuant of issue male of his own lody, to the heirs male of Sir Robert Harley, Knight of the Bath, his grandfather, by letters patent, bearing date May 24th, 1711, in the 10th year of her reign. The preamble of the said patent is as follows :^
" Whatever favour the equity of a Prince can bestow on a Gentleman, descended from an illustrious and very ancient family, framed by nature for great things, improved by education in all manner of learning for greater, exercised by long experience in business, versed in many different employments of the common- wealth, with extraordinary reputation, and not without danger : such has our trusty and well-beloved Counsellor, Robert Harley, justly deserved of us : he being the only man, who, by a full House of Commons, was chosen Speaker for three successive Parliaments; and, at the same time that he held the chair, was one of our principal Secretaries of State : his capacity fitting him for the management of those two important oflBces, which, though they seemed to disagree in themselves, were easily reconciled by one who knew how, with equal weight and address, to temper and turn the minds of men ; so wisely to defend the rights of the people, without derogating from the prerogative of the crown } and who was thoroughly acquainted how well monarchy could consist with liberty. Having run through these two employments at the same time, after some breathing-while, he took care of our Treasury, as Chancellor of our Exchequer; put a stop to the growing embezzlement of the public money, which was spreading far and wide, like a contagion ; provided for the settling a new trade to the South Seas; and having, with wonderful sagacity, very lately, and in a very good time, retrieved the languishing condition of our exchequer; and thus restored the public credit, merited the applause of the Parliament, filled our citizens with joy, and us (for our interest is ever the same with that of our
k It has been said to be written by Swifr. See Hail. Misc. I. i.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER.
//
people), with no small satisfaction : for these reasons, we deter- mine to confer on a Gentleman, who has deserved so well of us, and all our good subjects, those honours which were long since due to him and his family; being induced thereto by our own inclination, and the general voice of all Great-Britain. Since therefore the two houses of Parliament have declared, that the fidelity and affection he has expressed in our service, have exposed him to the hatred of wicked men, and the desperate rao^e of a villainous parricide; since they have congratulated his escape from such imminent dangers, and put us in mind, that he might not be preserved in vain, we willingly comply with their desires, and grant him, who comes so honourably recommended by tire hearty votes of our Parliament, a place among the Peers; ta whom, by the noble blood, and long train of his ancestors, he i» so nearly allied ; and that, with all felicity, he take his title from the city, where learning flourishes in ho high a degree; himself the ornament of learning, and patron of learned men. Know, &c."
In regard to the latter part of his Lordship's character, it may justly be observed, that he was not only an encourager of litera- ture, but the greatest collector, in his time, of all curious books in print and manuscript, especially those concerning the history of his own country; which were preserved, and much augmented, by the late Earl his son. But, the Harleyan library being so much celebrated for its usefulness, by other authors, I need only refer ray reader to the description of it, in the preface to Bishop Nichol- son's English Historical Library, folio ; and to what I have cited in my several accounts relating to the noble families, whereof I have treated.
On Tuesday, May 29th, 1711^ being the anniversary of the nativity and restoration of Charles II. the Queen appointed the Earl of Oxford, &c. Lord High Treasurer of Great-Britain j her Majesty having thought fit to pitch on that a^ispicious day, for the inauguration of a Prime Minister, to whose wisdom, vigi- lance, and integrity, the restoration of public credit was princi- pally owing. On June 1st, his Lordship, attended by the Dukes of Newcastle, Buckingham, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Ormond, Beaufort, Schomberg, Queensberry, and Hamilton ; the Earls of Northampton, Rivers, Winchelsea, Scarsdale, Clarendon, Cardi- gan, Rochester, Anglesey, Yarmouth, Jersey, Poulett, Choimon- deley, Marr, and Loudon ; the Lords Dartmouth, De la Warr, Guilford, Butler of Weston, Hallifax, and Guernsey; with the
^8 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
Officers of the Exchequer, took the oath in the Court of Chan- cery ; after which^ his Lordship went to the Court of Exchequer, and took also the usual oath as Lord High Treasurer j on which occasion Sir Simon Harcourt, the Lord-keeeper^ addressed himself to his Lordship, in the following speech :
" My Lord Oxford, " The Queen, who does every thing with the greatest wis- dom, has given a proof of it in the honours she has lately confer- red on you, which are exactly suited to your deserts, and quali- fications.
" My Lord, " The title, which you now bear, could not have been so justly- placed on any other of her Majesty's subjects. Some of that an- cient blood, which fills your veins, is derived from the Veres : and you have shewed yourself as ready to sacrifice it, for the safety of your Prince, and the good of your country, and as fear- less of danger, on the most trying occasions, as ever any of that brave and loyal house were. Nor is that title less suited to you, as it carries in it a relation to one of the chief seats of learning: for when your enemies, my Lord ^if any such there still are), must own, that the love of letters, and the encouragement of those who excel in them, is one distinguishing part of your character.
" My Lord, " The high station of Lord-Treasurer of Great-Britain, to which her Majesty has called you, is the just reward of )onr emi- nent services. You have been the great instrument of restoring public credit, and relieving this nation from the heavy pressure and ignominy of an immense debt, under which it languished ; and you are now entrusted with the power of securing us from a relapse into the same ill state, out of which you have rescued us. This great office, my Lord, is every way worthy of you ; particularly on the account of those many difficulties, with which the faithful discharge of it must be unavoidably attended, and which require a genius like yours to master them. The only difficulty which even you, my Lord, may find insuperable, is how to deserve better of the crown and kingdom after this ad- vancement, than you did before it."
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 79
On August 15th, 171 1> at a general court of the South Sta Company, he was chosen their Governor, of which he had been the chief founder or regulator. On October 26th, 1/12, he was elected a Knight-companion of the most noble Order of the Gar- ter j and installed at Windsor, on August 4th following. He was also one of the Governors of the Charter-house, and Custos Rotulorum of the county of Radnor. On July 27th, 1714, he resigned his staff as Lord High Treasurer of Great-Britain, at Kensington, into the Queen's hands, who died on August 1st, that year.
On June 10th, I715, his lordship was impeached, by the house of Commons, of high treason, and high crimes, and misdemeanors; and was committed to the Tower by (he house of Lords, on July 16th, the same year: where he suffered a severe and long con- finement, till July 1st, 1717* when, after a public trial", he wa« unanimously acquitted by his Peers.
Mr. Pops hath celebrated his memory in the following lines:'
*' A soul supreme, in each hard iostance try'd. Above all pain, all anger, and all pride; The rage of power, the blast of public breath. The lust of lucre, and the dread of death."
After his Lordship's decease, the following character was also given of him :
" During the time he was Prime Minister, notwithstanding such a weight of affairs rested on him, he was easy and disen- gaged in private conversation. He was endowed with great learning, and was a great favourer a.jd protector of it. Intrepid by nature, as well as by the consciousness of his own integrity; he would have chosen rather to fall by an impeachment, than to have been saved by an act of grace ; sagacious to view into the remotest consequence of things, by which all dilticulties fled be- fore him. He was a courteous neighbour, a firm and affectionate friend, and a kind, generous, and placable enemy, sacrificing his just resentments, not only to public good, but to common inter- cession and acknowledgment. He was a despiser of money; ,and, what is yet more rare, an uncorrupted Minister of State;
* In the dedication of Parnell's Poerri; they are among the finest of Pope's lines.
80 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
which appeared, by not having made the least accession to his fortune."'"
His Lordship married, first, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Foley, of Witley-court, in the county of Worcester, Esq. and sister to Thomas, the first Lord Foley, by whom he had issue, Edward, his son and heir, second Earl of Oxford, &c. and two daughters ;
Lady Abigail, second daughter," married to George, Earl of Kinnoul, in Scotland, and Baron Hay, of Pedwarden, in Eng- land 5 her Ladyship died at Breadsworth, near Doncaster, July Idth, 1750.
And Lady Elizabeth, eldest daughter," married, on Dec. 15th, 1712, to Peregrine-Hyde Osborne, Marquis of Carmarthen, after^ wards Duke of Leeds, by whom she died in childbed of the next Duke of Leeds.
His Lordship took to his second wife, Sarah, daughter to Tho- mas Middleton, Esq. a son of Sir Hugh Middleton, Bart, but by her had no issue : and departing this life in the sixty-fourth year of his age, on May 21st, 1724, was succeeded in honour and estate by Edward, his only son, before mentioned; and his second Lady surviving him, died in June, 1737-
Which Edward, second Earl of Oxford, &c, married, on October 31st, 1713, the Lady Henrietta Cavendish Holies, only daughter and heir of his Grace John Holies, Duke of New- castJe.
His I/ordship was eminently distinguished for his disinterest- edness, both in public and private life 5 and was respected as one of the principal patrons of the age, for his encouragement of lite- rature, and learned men. He made a most valuable addition to the rich magazine of manuscripts, collected hy the Lord Trea- surer, his father, especially in the history and antiquities of Eng- land, both ecclesiastical and civil. He collected besides, an
^ He was the rival of Bolingbroke, wbo has painted him in the blackest co- lours; but Bolingbroke's authority will not gain unexamined assent. It is true that he does not appear to have been endowed with brilliant, or commanding ta- lents ; he trusted loo much to intrigue, and management, and expedients, and was reserved and dark in his conduct. His memoiy has been embalmed by the circle of wits, whom he admitted to his hours of leisure and hospitality. Pope, Swift, Parnell, Gay, and Prior, were among his intimate associates ; and whatever dull men may think, there is much worldly wisdom in such a choice. Edilor. ^ Ped. of MiUicsof Ebor.
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTLMER. 8i
invaluable treasure of original letters and papers of slate, written by the greatest Princes, Statesmen, and Scholars, as well of foreign nations as of Great Britain. But I shall be the less particular on this head, as the catalogue of these literary treasures is printed in two large folio volumes. His printed books were the most choice and magnificent that were ever collected in this kingdom. There were in his library the first printed books of all countries, and especially of our own. Many printed upon vellum, and otherwise, in the grandest manner, and enriched with the most costly sculpture. The printed books alone have been reckoned above forty thousand volumes. As none were ever more zealous to collect whatever rarities in literature would be most service- able, to the learned, ingenious, and knowing part of mankind ; so none was more communicative thereof, as may sufficiently ap- pear, in the numbers of authors who have made such respectful references to the volumes in the Harleyan library. The valuable collection of manuscripts was preserved by his Lady, the right honourable Henrietta Cavendish Holies, Countess of Oxford, at her house in Dover-street ; till her Ladyship, for the service of the public, consented to the Parliament's making a purchase thereof in I754, and they are now deposited in the British Mu- seum. His Lordship was a true lover of his country, as his con- duct in the senate manifested : and departing this life," aged forty-two, at his house in Dover-street, on Tuesday, June Idth, 17'*1> was buried in Westminster Abbey. He left issue an only daughter and heir. Lady Margaret-Cavendish Ha'-ley, married in 1734, to his Grace,- William, second Duke of Portland, a lady well known for her love of the arts, and her patronage of litera- ture, who died July 7th, 1/85, leaving issue the present Duke of Portland, &c.
Leaving no male issue by his Lady (who survived him till Dec. 8th, 1755,^ and lies buried with him), his honours devolved on Edward Harley, Esq. then Knight of the shire for the county of Hereford, son and heir of Edward Harley, of Eywood, in com. Hereford, Esq. before mentioned, one of the Auditors of the Im- prest, who was next brother to Robert, first earl of Oxford, and Earl Mortimer, Lord High Treasurer of England, according to the limitation of the patent.
° Lady Mary W. Montague, speaking of his death, sayn, he refused all reme- dies, till too late.
P Yet her friend, Lady Mary W. Montague; speaks of her as alive in a letter, dated June loth, 1757.
VOL. IV. 6
i2 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
The said Edward Harlej--, who thus succeeded as THiRn E\RL OF OxFoKD;, AND Earl MoETiMER, &c. Served as one of the Knights in parliament for the county of Hereford, from the first parliament called in 1/27, by the late King, inclusive, until be became intitlcd to a seat in the house of Peers. In 1/46, his Lordship was elected High-fleward of the city of Hereford, in the room of Henry Duke of Beaufort, deceased : and on April 12th, 1748, was, in convocation, presented, by the University of Oxford, with the degree of Doctor of the Civil Law. His Lord- ship, in March 1725, wedded Martha, eldest daughter of John Morgan, of Tredegar, in Monmouthshire, Esq. and sister to the late Sir William Morgan, Knight of the Bath; and by her Lady- ship, who departed this life, Jan. 4th, 1774, and was buried at Brampton Bryan, in Herefordshire, had issue five sons, 1. Ed- ward the late Earl of Oxford, &c.
2. The honourable Robert Harley, who was born on Septem- ber 10th, 1727, and died a bachelor, at Bath, on Jan. 12th, 176O, and was buried at Brampton Bryan.
3. The honourable and rev. John Harley, who was born on Sept. 29th, 1728, and appointed Dean of Windsor in Jan. 1778; and Bishop of Hereford, 17S7. He was also Rector of Mary-lc- bone, Middlesex, and Presteign, in Radnorshire ; and died, Jan. 7th, 1788. He married, February 23d, 1770, Roach, daughter and heir of Gwynne Vaughan, of Trebarry, com. Radnor, Esq. by whom he had two sons; Edward, born in Harley-street, Lon- don, Feb. 20th, 1773, now Earl of Oxford; and John, born in Harley-street, Dec. 31st, 1774; also two daughters, Frances and Martha.
4. The hon. Thomas Harley, Esq. the fourth son, before-men- tioned, of Edward, third Earl of Oxford, was born on August 24th, 1/30; and on March 15th, 1752, married Anne, daughter of Edward Bangham, Esq. Deputy Auditor of the In]pres4S, and member for Leominster, in 171O. By this Lady, who died Jan. ]5th, 1798, aged sixty six, he had two sons, and five daughters; viz. Thomas, who died on Jan. l/th, I763; 2. Edward, who died July 1 Itb, l/OS; 3. Henrietta, who died on July 4th, 1759; 4. Martha, married by special licence, at St. Mary-le-bone, Mid- dlesex, Dec. 30th, 1779, to George Drummond, of Stanmore, in Middlesex, Esq. and died in Aug. 1788, as did Mr. Drummond, in March 1789, leaving issue. 5. Anne, born March 13th, 1759, married, April lOth, 178I, George, second Lord Rodney, who died 1802, and by whom she had issue the present Lord Rodney,
EARL OF OXFORD, AND EARL MORTIMER. 83
See. 6. Sarah, born Oct. ipih, 1/60, married, July 1/81, Ro- bert, ninth Earl of Kinnoul, who died 1804, and by whom she had issue the present Earl of Kinnoul, &c. 7. Elizabeth, born in April 1 703, married, Oct. 8th, 1783, David Murray, Esq. bro- ther to the present Lord Elibank : he died May 7th, 1794, leaving issue by her. 8. Margaret, born July 4th, 1/65, married, Feb. 26th, 1784, Sir John Boyd, Bart.
At the general election, in April I761, being an eminent mer- chant, he waschofen oneof the four citizens of London, to the 12th parliament of Great Britain; and again in 1768: and on May 5th, 1761, was elected Alderman of Portsoken-ward, in the city of London. On June 33d, he was chosen one of the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex ; and having been sworn in at Guildhall, on Sept, 26th, following, was sworn at the Exchequer on the 29lh, when he entered into his office, which he discharged w^ith spirit and integrity. In 1/68, he served the high office of Lord Mayor of the said city; and in 177^, was chosen Knight of the Shire for Hereford, which county he continued to represent till his death. He was alfo one of his Majesty's most honourable Privy Council He was one of the Governors of the London Lying-in Hospital in Aldersgate- street, of which he was elected Treasurer in 1762, and President in 1764. He died Dec. 1st, 1804.
5. The hon. and rev. William Harley, who was born on May 30th, 1733, was Vicar of Uffington, in Berkshire, Rector of Ever- lay, in Wiltshire, and Prebendary of Worcester, died July 8th, J 769, and was buried at Brampton Eryan.
This Earl of Oxford had also, by the same Lady, two daugh- ters; viz. Lady Sarah, who died unmarried, on April 29th, 1737, in the fixth year of her age, and is buried at St. Mary-le-bone, near London ; and Lady Martha, who was born on Nov. 2Sth, 1736, and married, on April 20th, 1/64, to Charles Milborne, of the Priory, near Abergavenny, in the county of Monmouth, Esq.
The Earl of Oxford died at Bath, on April 11th, 1755, having, through the whole course of his years, behaved with great honour and integrity, in public as well as private life. He was succeeded by his eldest son,
Edward, Lord Harley, the fourth Eahl of Oxfokp, &c. who was born on Sept. 2d, 1726, and on July 15th, 1747, was elected to the 10th parliament of Great Britain, one of the Kn.'ghts for the county of Hereford, for which he was also returned to the next parliament, which first met on business. May 31st, 1/54, and sat till bis father's death. On April 12th, 1/48, he had the
84 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
degree of Doctor of the Civil Law conferred on him, in convoca- tion of the University of Oxford. Soon after the accession of the present King, he was made one of the Lords of the bedchamber; and was also Lord Lieutenant and Gustos Rotulorum of the Coun- ties of Hereford and Radnor; a Fellow of the Royal Society, and one of the Trustees of the British Museum, and LL.D.
His Lordship married, on July llth, Susannah, eldest daughter of William Archer, of Wei ford, in Berkshire, Esq. who repre- sented that county in the parliament of Great Britain, with great honour and fidelity, until he died, on June 30th, IJSg, aged fifty- nine; but had no issue by her Ladyship ; who died Nov. 10th, 180-1. His Lordship dying October Sth, 1 79O, was succeeded by his nephew, the eldest son of his brother John, Bishop of Here- ford, viz.
Edwakd, present and fifth Earl op Oxford, &c. who mar- ried. Mar. 3d, 1 794, Miss Scott, daughter of the late rev. James Scott, A.M. Rector of ^Stokin, near Southampton, by whom he has issue ;
1. A daughter, born Mar. gth, 1796.
2. Lord Harley, his son and heir, born Jan. 10th, 1800.
3. A daughter, born Dec. 12th, 1801.
Titles.'] Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford, and Earl Mortimer, and Baron Harley, of Wigmore.
Creations.'] Baron Harley, of Wigmore, in com. Hereford, Earl Mortimer (the name of a family), and Earl of the city of Oxford, May 24th, 1711, 10 Queen Anne.
Arms.] Or, a Bend cotised Sable.
Crest.] On a Wreath, a Castle, Argent, Triple-towered, with a Demi-lion rampant. Gules, issuing out of the battlements of the middle tower>
Supporters.] Two Angels, proper, habited in long Robes, their Hair and Wings, Or.
Motto.] ViRTUTE ET FiDE.
Chief Seat.'] Eywood House, in the county of Hereford.
SHIRLEY EARL FERRERS.
85
SHIRLEY EARL FERRERS.
The truly ancient and honourable family of Shirley, has bad the good fortune to have been illustrated by a history of them, compiled by an eminent member of their own house. Sir Thomas Shirley, Knt. of Botolph's Bridge, in Huntingdonshire, younger son of Sir George Shirley, the first Baronet, coniposed three dis- tinct MSS. histories of the Shirleys, all of which are preserved in the British Museum.'^
* My indefatigable friend, Mr. Nichols, in his History of LeIcestersh!re,Vol.III, p. 704, et seq. has furnished me with the copious materials, which will render it necessary almost to re-compile this article. From thence the titles of the above MSS. are here cited.
<' Shirleorum, Warwicensis et Darbiensis familiae quam antlquissimse, genuina Prosapia; a quodam Sewallo, viro perillustri, prospero ac felici succcssu, inter- rupta etiamnum serie continuata ; ac longe aliter quam hactenus unqiiam deli- neata : Unde Henricus Shirley de Eitington, Shirley, Staunton-Harold, Scq. in Warwici, Darbiae, et Leicestriae ditionibus, inclytus Baronettus suorumque Majo- rum Genealogiis honoratissimus,'perenni masculoruna successione recte derivatur ; necnon et Thomas Shirley de Botulphbridge, in Comitatu Huntingdoniae Miles, Philarchismus ; qui pio erga majores afFectu ductus, eorum propagationes, cum suis conjugiorum copulis, armisque gentilitiis ex publicis regni archivis, et pri- vatis ejusdem familiae evidentlis, ecclesiis, monumentis historicis, monaste- riorum registris, et rotulis armorum vetustissimls, aliisque rebus reverendae anti- quitatis, et indubitatae veritatis, maximolabore ac fide oculata deprompsit, atque ad perpetuam rei memoriam, seriatim hoc ordine describi curavit. Quibus ad latera diversorum magnatum virorumque clarissimorum adjunguntur stemmata; quo- rum accessione plurimorum huic familias honoris tam in armorum delationibus, quern etiam ex census et prasdiorum incremento, fsminarum haeredum jure ob- venisse cstenditur." Harl. MS.S. 4o;8.
The second History is entitled, " Genealogica Historia Domus de Shirley, Do- minorum de Etingdon, Shirley, Hoga, Ednesonor, Slaunton-Harald, Ragdal,
86 PEERAGE OF ENGLAND.
*' This renowned family of Shirley (says Sir Thomas), hath produced so long a succession of noble personages, who have so admirably conjoined the practice of most excellent virtues and nobleness of blood with so great perfection, that their heroic ac- tions, by the complete union of these two rare qualities, htve far surmounted the lustre of their birth ; for by their piety and me- rits, they have acquired all the prerogatives of honour and glory, which may raise a house to height of splendour, and engrave the memory of its name within the eternity of ages. But for the principles, there are seven most remarkable ; so eminent, so rare, and singular, that they are to be found in few other families. One is, the nobleness and antiquity of blood, which hath passed for seven entire ages, being assured, by most renowned recorders, ■worthy to be believed, that the first ancestors of this house have had the reputation and honour of a most ancient Saxon line, flou- rishing in opulence and dignity long before the Norman conquest; and since the happy times of the glorious King, and most beloved servant of the King of Kings, blessed St. Edward the Confessor, it justifies itself to have continued prosperously, from male to male, unto this present, by a continual uninterrupted succession of many renowned persons, whose actions have been most famous, and truly worthy of a history. The second mark of ornament, which shines most resplendent ly in the house, is, that they have contracted all their marriages with the ancient and most illus- trious houses in England. In the third place, the renown of this family hath been marvellously increased, by the prowess, memo- rable acts, and high attempts of the descendants, who have always appeared in the first ranks in all places where fortitude and glo- rious military virtue might make itself admired. The fourth advantage of glory, which so highly raiseth the fame of this house, is the great devotion and singular fidelity it hath always
Braylesford, Astwel, et plurimorum allorum locorum chartis